Isaiah 39

Isa 39:1 At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he had heard that he was ill, and was made strong.
Isa 39:2 And Hezekiah was glad because of them and let them see the house of his treasure, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the good oil, and all his weapons, and all that was found in his treasuries; there was nothing in his house or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not let them see.
Isa 39:3 And Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, What did these men say? And from where did they come to you? And Hezekiah said, They have come from a distant land to me, from Babylon.
Isa 39:4 Then he said, What have they seen in your house? And Hezekiah said, They have seen all that is in my house; there is not a thing among my treasures that I have not made them see.
Isa 39:5 And Isaiah said to Hezekiah, Hear the Word of Jehovah of Hosts:
Isa 39:6 Behold, days come when all that is in your house, even what your fathers have treasured up until now, shall be borne away to Babylon; nothing shall be left, says Jehovah.
Isa 39:7 And they shall take of your sons who shall issue from you, which you shall father; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
Isa 39:8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, The Word of Jehovah that you have said is good. And he said, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

Isaiah 38

Isa 38:1 In those days Hezekiah was sick to death. And Isaiah the son of Amoz, the prophet, came to him and said to him, So says Jehovah, Command your house, for you are dying, and shall not live.
Isa 38:2 And Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Jehovah,
Isa 38:3 and said, O Jehovah, I beg You to remember now that I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart; and I have done the good in Your eyes. And Hezekiah wept with a great weeping.
Isa 38:4 Then the Word of Jehovah was to Isaiah, saying,
Isa 38:5 Go and say to Hezekiah, So says Jehovah the God of your father David, I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your days.
Isa 38:6 And I will deliver you and this city out of the king of Assyria’s hand. And I will shield over this city.
Isa 38:7 So this shall be the sign to you from Jehovah, that Jehovah shall do this thing that He has spoken:
Isa 38:8 Behold, I will bring back the shadow of the steps which has gone down in the steps of Ahaz with the sun, backward ten steps. So the sun went back up ten steps, by which steps it had gone down!
Isa 38:9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered from his illness:
Isa 38:10 I said in the cessation of my days, I shall go to the gates of Sheol; I am called to account for the rest of my years.
Isa 38:11 I said, I shall not see Jah Jehovah in the land of the living; I shall no longer look on man with those dwelling in the death-rest.
Isa 38:12 My generation is plucked up and carried away from me, like a shepherd’s tent; I have cut off my life like the weaver. He will cut me off from the threads; from day to night You will make an end of me.
Isa 38:13 I leveled my soul until morning. Like a lion, so He shatters all my bones. From day until night You make an end of me.
Isa 38:14 Like a swift or a crane, so I chatter. I moan as the dove; my eyes look weakly to the heights, O Jehovah; it presses me down; be surety for me!
Isa 38:15 What shall I say? For He speaks to me, and He has acted. I shall go softly all my years over the bitterness of my soul.
Isa 38:16 O Lord, on them they live, and for all in them is the life of my spirit. And You heal me, and make me live.
Isa 38:17 Behold, for peace was bitter to me, most bitter; but You loved my soul from the pit of destruction; You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
Isa 38:18 For Sheol cannot thank You; death cannot praise You; the ones going down to the Pit cannot hope for Your truth.
Isa 38:19 The living, the living is the one thanking You; as I do today. The father makes known Your truth to his sons.
Isa 38:20 For Jehovah will save me; and we will play my songs on stringed instruments all the days of our life, at the house of Jehovah.
Isa 38:21 For Isaiah had said, Let them take a cake of figs and rub it on the ulcer, and he will live.
Isa 38:22 And Hezekiah said, What is the sign that I will go up to the house of Jehovah?

Isaiah 37

Isa 37:1 And it happened when King Hezekiah heard, he tore his garments and was covered with sackcloth. And he went into the house of Jehovah.
Isa 37:2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.
Isa 37:3 And they said to him, So says Hezekiah, This day is a day of distress, and reproach, and contempt. For sons have come to the breach and there is no strength to give birth.
Isa 37:4 It may be Jehovah your God will hear the words of the chief of the cupbearers whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and rebuke against the words which Jehovah your God has heard. And you shall lift up prayer for the remnant that is found.
Isa 37:5 So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
Isa 37:6 And Isaiah said to them, You shall say this to your master, So says Jehovah: Do not fear the words which you have heard, with which the followers of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me
Isa 37:7 Behold, I am giving into him a spirit, and he shall hear a rumor, and return to his own land. And I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
Isa 37:8 So the chief of the cupbearers returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he had pulled up stakes from Lachish.
Isa 37:9 And he heard about Tirhakah the king of Ethiopia, saying, He has come out to fight with you. And he heard and sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,
Isa 37:10 So you shall say to Hezekiah, king of Judah, saying, Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the king of Assyria’s hand.
Isa 37:11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, to destroy them utterly. And shall you be delivered?
Isa 37:12 Have the gods of the nations saved those whom my fathers have destroyed, Gozan and Haran, and Rezeph, and the sons of Eden in Telassar?
Isa 37:13 Where is Hamath’s king, and Arpad’s king, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?
Isa 37:14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the couriers, and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to the house of Jehovah and spread it before Jehovah.
Isa 37:15 And Hezekiah prayed to Jehovah, saying,
Isa 37:16 O Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, who dwells between the cherubs, You are He, God, You alone to all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heavens and the earth.
Isa 37:17 Bow down Your ear, O Jehovah, and hear. Open Your eye, O Jehovah, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib which he has sent, to reproach the living God.
Isa 37:18 Truly, O Jehovah, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the lands, and their land,
Isa 37:19 and have given their gods into the fire (for they were not gods, only the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; so they have destroyed them).
Isa 37:20 And now, O Jehovah our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are Jehovah, You alone.
Isa 37:21 And Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, So says Jehovah, God of Israel, Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib the king of Assyria,
Isa 37:22 this is the Word Jehovah has spoken about him: The virgin, the daughter of Zion, has despised you, laughing you to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem has shaken the head behind you.
Isa 37:23 Whom have you mocked and reviled? And against whom have you lifted your voice, and lifted your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel!
Isa 37:24 By your servants, you have mocked the Lord, and said, By my many chariots I have come up to the tops of mountains, the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down its tall cedars, its choice fir trees; and I will go to its greatest height, the forest of its fruitful field.
Isa 37:25 I have dug and drunk water; and I have dried up the streams of Egypt with the sole of my feet.
Isa 37:26 Have you not heard it from afar? I have made it from days of old, even I formed it. Now I have caused it to come, and you are to cause fortified cities to crash into heaps, ruins.
Isa 37:27 And those living in it were short of hand, dismayed and ashamed. They were as the field grass and the green herbs; like the grass of the housetops, even blasted before it has risen.
Isa 37:28 But I know your sitting down, and your going out, and your coming in, and your raging against Me.
Isa 37:29 Because of your raging against Me, and your arrogance has come up to My ears, even I will put My hook in your nose, and My bridle in your lips; and I will turn you back by the way you came in.
Isa 37:30 And this shall be the sign to you: You shall eat self-sown grain this year; and the second year, that which springs up; and in the third year you shall sow and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.
Isa 37:31 The remnant of the house of Judah that has escaped shall again take root downward, and it produces fruit upward.
Isa 37:32 For a remnant shall go out of Jerusalem, and the escaped ones out of Mount Zion; the zeal of Jehovah of Hosts shall do this.
Isa 37:33 So Jehovah says this to the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with a shield, nor pour out a siege mound on it.
Isa 37:34 He shall return by the same way that he came in, and he shall not come into this city, says Jehovah.
Isa 37:35 For I will defend over this city to save it, for My own sake, and for My servant David’s sake.
Isa 37:36 Then the Angel of Jehovah went out and struck a hundred and eighty five thousand in the camp of Assyria. And they rose early in the morning; and, behold! They were all dead corpses.
Isa 37:37 And Sennacherib, king of Assyria, set out, and went and returned; and he lived at Nineveh.
Isa 37:38 And it happened as he was worshiping in the house of his god Nisroch, even his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him with the sword. And they escaped into the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

Isaiah 36

Isa 36:1 And it happened in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.
Isa 36:2 And the king of Assyria sent the chief of the cupbearers from Lachish to Jerusalem, to King Hezekiah, with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the Fuller’s Field.
Isa 36:3 And Eliakim, Hilkiah’s son, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah, the recorder, came out to him.
Isa 36:4 And the chief of the cupbearers said to them, Say now to Hezekiah, The great king says this, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this in which you trust?
Isa 36:5 I say, Are only words of the lips counsel and strength for war? Now, in whom have you trusted that you rebelled against me?
Isa 36:6 Behold, you trust on the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt, which if a man leans on it, it goes into his hand and pierces it; so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
Isa 36:7 But if you say to me, We trust in Jehovah our God; is it not He whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed? And He said to Judah and Jerusalem, You shall worship before this altar.
Isa 36:8 Now, then, please exchange pledges with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to set riders on them for you.
Isa 36:9 How then will you turn away the face of one commander of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust in Egypt for chariotry and horsemen?
Isa 36:10 And now have I come up against this land to destroy it without Jehovah? Jehovah said to me, Go up to this land and destroy it.
Isa 36:11 And Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to the chief of the cupbearers, Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we hear. But do not speak to us in Judean, in the ears of the people on the wall.
Isa 36:12 But the chief of the cupbearers said, Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words? Is it not on the men who sit on the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink the water of their feet with you?
Isa 36:13 And the chief of the cupbearers stood and cried with a loud voice in Judean, and said, Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.
Isa 36:14 So says the king, Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to save you.
Isa 36:15 And let not Hezekiah make you trust in Jehovah, saying, Jehovah saving will save us; this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
Isa 36:16 Do not listen to Hezekiah. For the king of Assyria says this, Make peace with me and come out to me. Then let each eat of his own vine, and each of his own fig tree, and each drink the waters of his own well,
Isa 36:17 until I come and take you to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.
Isa 36:18 Let not Hezekiah persuade you, saying, Jehovah will deliver us. Have the gods of the nations delivered a man of his land from the king of Assyria’s hand?
Isa 36:19 Where are the gods of Hamath, and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? And when have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
Isa 36:20 Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered their land out of my hand, that Jehovah should keep Jerusalem out of my hand?
Isa 36:21 But they were silent, and did not answer him a word; for this was the king’s order, saying, Do not answer him.
Isa 36:22 And Eliakim, Hilkiah’s son who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their garments torn. And they reported to him the words of the chief of cupbearers.

Isaiah 35

Isa 35:1 The wilderness and dry land shall rejoice for them; and the desert shall exult and bloom like the crocus.
Isa 35:2 Blooming, it shall bloom and exult, even with joy and singing. Lebanon’s glory shall be given to it, the honor of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of Jehovah, the majesty of our God.
Isa 35:3 Make the weak hands strong, and firm up the stumbling knees.
Isa 35:4 Say to those of a hasty heart, Be strong! Do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance; with the full dealing of God, He will come and save you.
Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf opened.
Isa 35:6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing. For waters shall break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
Isa 35:7 And the mirage shall become a pool, and the thirsty land shall become springs of waters, in the home of jackals, in its lair, and a place for the reed and rush.
Isa 35:8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The Way of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it. And it is for them, the one going in the way; yea, fools shall not go astray.
Isa 35:9 No lion shall be there; and no violent beast shall go up on it; it shall not be found there. But redeemed ones shall walk there.
Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return and enter Zion, with singing and everlasting joy on their head; gladness and joy shall reach them; and sorrow and sighing shall flee.

Isaiah 34

Isa 34:1 Nations, come near to hear; and peoples, listen! Let the earth hear, and its fullness, the world and all its offspring.
Isa 34:2 For the wrath of Jehovah is on all the nations, and fury on all their army; He has devoted them; He gave them to slaughter.
Isa 34:3 And their slain shall be thrown out; and the stench from their carcasses shall go up; and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
Isa 34:4 And all the host of the heavens shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together like a scroll. Then all their host shall droop, as a leaf drooping from the vine, and as the drooping from a fig tree.
Isa 34:5 For My sword is drenched in the heavens. Behold, it shall come down on Edom, and on the people of My curse, for judgment.
Isa 34:6 A sword is to Jehovah; it is filled with blood; it is made fat with fatness, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For Jehovah has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.
Isa 34:7 And wild oxen shall come down with them, and bulls with strong bulls; and their land is drenched with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.
Isa 34:8 For the day of vengeance is to Jehovah, the year of repayments for Zion’s cause.
Isa 34:9 And its torrents shall be turned to pitch, and its dust to brimstone; and its land shall become burning pitch.
Isa 34:10 It shall not be put out night or day; its smoke shall go up forever. From generation to generation, it shall lie waste; no one shall pass through it forever and forever.
Isa 34:11 But the owl and the hedgehog shall possess it; and the eared owl and the raven shall live in it. And He shall stretch out on it the line of shame, and the stones of emptiness.
Isa 34:12 They shall call its nobles to a kingdom, but none shall be there; and all her rulers shall be nothing.
Isa 34:13 And thorns shall grow in her palaces, nettles and thistles in its fortresses; and it shall be a home for jackals, a court for daughters of ostriches.
Isa 34:14 The desert creatures shall also meet with the howlers; and the shaggy goat shall cry to his fellow. The screech owl shall also settle there, and find a place of rest for herself.
Isa 34:15 The snake shall nest there, and shall lay, and hatch, and shall gather in her shadow. Vultures shall also be gathered together, each with its mate.
Isa 34:16 Search and read from the Book of Jehovah; not one of these misses, each not lacking her mate; for He has commanded my mouth, and by His Spirit He has assembled them.
Isa 34:17 And He has made fall a lot for them, and His hand divided it to them by line. They shall possess it until forever, from generation to generation they shall live in it.

Isaiah 33

Isa 33:1 Woe to one destroying, and you not being destroyed, betraying and they did not betray you! When you finish destroying, you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying, they will betray you.
Isa 33:2 O Jehovah, be gracious to us. We have hoped in You; be their arm in the mornings, our salvation also in time of distress.
Isa 33:3 At the sound of the tumult, peoples fled; at Your exaltation, nations scattered.
Isa 33:4 And Your prey shall be gathered as the stripping locust gathers; as locusts run to and fro, he also runs about on it.
Isa 33:5 Jehovah is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
Isa 33:6 And He will be the security of your times, strength of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of Jehovah is His treasure.
Isa 33:7 Behold, their heroes cry outside; the envoys of peace shall weep bitterly.
Isa 33:8 The highways are desolated; the path crosser ceases. He has broken the covenant; he has rejected cities; he has not respected man.
Isa 33:9 The land mourns and droops; Lebanon is ashamed; Sharon withers like a wilderness; Bashan is shaken out; also Carmel.
Isa 33:10 Now I will rise up, says Jehovah. Now I will be exalted; now I will be lifted up.
Isa 33:11 You shall conceive chaff; you shall bear stubble; your fiery breath shall devour you.
Isa 33:12 And peoples shall be as burnings of lime; as thorns cut away, they shall be burned in fire.
Isa 33:13 Distant ones, hear what I have done; and you near ones, know My might.
Isa 33:14 The sinners of Zion are afraid; terror has seized profane ones; who of us shall tarry with consuming fire? Who of us shall tarry with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly; he who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands free from taking the bribe, who stops his ear from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil.
Isa 33:16 He shall live on high; strongholds of rocks will be his retreat; his bread shall be given; his waters are faithful.
Isa 33:17 Your eyes shall see the king in his beauty; they shall see a land that is very far off.
Isa 33:18 Your heart shall ponder terror: Where is he counting? Where is he weighing? Where is he counting the towers?
Isa 33:19 You shall not see the fierce people, from hearing a people of a deep lip, of a foreign tongue, that none understands.
Isa 33:20 Behold, Zion, the city of our appointed meetings! Your eyes shall see Jerusalem, a quiet home, a tent that shall not be moved; its stakes shall not be pulled up forever, nor shall any of its cords be pulled off.
Isa 33:21 But majestic Jehovah will place there for us a place of rivers and streams, broad on both hands; a ship with oars shall not go in it, and a majestic boat shall not pass through it.
Isa 33:22 For Jehovah is our judge; Jehovah is our lawgiver; Jehovah is our king; He will save us.
Isa 33:23 Your ropes are loosened; they do not hold the base of their mast; they could not spread the sail. Then the prey of much plunder shall be divided; the lame shall seize on the spoil.
Isa 33:24 And an inhabitant shall not say, I am sick; the people who live in it; iniquity is taken away.

Isaiah 32

Isa 32:1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and rulers shall rule in judgment.
Isa 32:2 And a man shall be a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the tempest, as streams of water in a dry place; like the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
Isa 32:3 And the eyes of those that see shall not be dim, and the ears of those who hear shall listen.
Isa 32:4 And the heart of the hurrying shall discern knowledge; and the tongue of those that stutter shall hurry to speak clear things.
Isa 32:5 The fool shall no more be called noble, and a miser will not be said to be generous.
Isa 32:6 For the fool speaks foolishness, and his heart works iniquity, to do ungodliness; and to speak error against Jehovah, to make the hungry soul empty; and he causes the drink of the thirsty to fail.
Isa 32:7 And the weapons of the miser are evil; he devises wicked plots to destroy the poor with lying words, even the needy when he speaks right.
Isa 32:8 But the noble one devises noble things; and he shall rise by noble things.
Isa 32:9 O women who are at ease, rise up. Hear my voice; confident daughters, listen to my word.
Isa 32:10 You will shake for days on a year, confident women; for the vintage fails; the gathering will not come.
Isa 32:11 Tremble, women at ease; shake, confident women; strip and make yourselves bare, and bind on sackcloth on your loins;
Isa 32:12 be wailing over breasts, over pleasant fields, over the fruitful vine.
Isa 32:13 Thorns and briers shall spring up on the land of My people; even over all the houses of joy in the jubilant city,
Isa 32:14 because the palace is forsaken; the crowd of the city is forsaken; mound and tower are instead caves, until forever; a joy of wild asses; pasture for flocks;
Isa 32:15 until is poured out on us the Spirit from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field; and the fruitful field is reckoned as a forest.
Isa 32:16 Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness shall dwell in the fruitful field.
Isa 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the service of righteousness shall be quietness and hope forever.
Isa 32:18 And My people shall live in a peaceful home, and in safe dwellings, and in secure resting places.
Isa 32:19 Though it hails when the forest is going down, and the city is laid low,
Isa 32:20 blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send out the foot of the ox and the ass.

Isaiah 31

Isa 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and lean on horses, and trust on chariotry, because it is great; and in horsemen because they are very strong! But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek Jehovah.
Isa 31:2 And He also is wise, and brings evil, and will not turn aside His Words, but will rise against the house of evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity.
Isa 31:3 And Egypt is a man, and not God. And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. And Jehovah stretches out His hand, and both he who helps shall fall, and he who is helped shall fall; and they shall all cease together.
Isa 31:4 For so Jehovah has said to me: As the lion roars, even the young lion on his prey when the multitude of shepherds are gathered against him, he will not fear their voice, nor fret himself because of their noise. So Jehovah of Hosts shall go down to fight on Mount Zion, and on its hill.
Isa 31:5 As birds that fly, so Jehovah of Hosts will shield over Jerusalem; shielding and delivering, and passing over, He will save it.
Isa 31:6 Turn back to Him against whom you have made a deep revolt, sons of Israel.
Isa 31:7 For in that day each shall despise his silver idols and his golden idols, which your hands have made for you; a sin.
Isa 31:8 Then Assyria shall fall by a sword, not of man; yea, a sword, not of man, shall devour him. For he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become forced labor.
Isa 31:9 And his rock will pass away from fear; and his commanders shall tremble at the banner, declares Jehovah, whose fire is in Zion, and His furnace in Jerusalem.

The Book of Judith

The Book of Judith

Jdt 1:1

In the twelfth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, who reigned in Nineve, the great city; in the days of Arphaxad, which reigned over the Medes in Ecbatane, Jdt 1:2 And built in Ecbatane walls round about of stones hewn three cubits broad and six cubits long, and made the height of the wall seventy cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits:

Jdt 1:3

And set the towers thereof upon the gates of it an hundred

cubits high, and the breadth thereof in the foundation

threescore cubits:

Jdt 1:4

And he made the gates thereof, even gates that were raised to the height of seventy cubits, and the breadth of them was forty cubits, for the going forth of his mighty armies, and for the setting in array of his footmen:

Jdt 1:5
Even in those days king Nabuchodonosor made war with king

Arphaxad in the great plain, which is the plain in the borders

of Ragau.

Jdt 1:6

And there came unto him all they that dwelt in the hill

country, and all that dwelt by Euphrates, and Tigris and

Hydaspes, and the plain of Arioch the king of the Elymeans, and

very many nations of the sons of Chelod, assembled themselves to

the battle.

Jdt 1:7

Then Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians sent unto all that

dwelt in Persia, and to all that dwelt westward, and to those

that dwelt in Cilicia, and Damascus, and Libanus, and

Antilibanus, and to all that dwelt upon the sea coast,

Jdt 1:8

And to those among the nations that were of Carmel, and

Galaad, and the higher Galilee, and the great plain of Esdrelom,

Jdt 1:9
And to all that were in Samaria and the cities thereof, and

beyond Jordan unto Jerusalem, and Betane, and Chelus, and Kades,

and the river of Egypt, and Taphnes, and Ramesse, and all the

land of Gesem,

Jdt 1:10

Until ye come beyond Tanis and Memphis, and to all the inhabitants of Egypt, until ye come to the borders of Ethiopia.

Jdt 1:11

But all the inhabitants of the land made light of the commandment of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, neither went they with him to the battle; for they were not afraid of him: yea, he was before them as one man, and they sent away his ambassadors from them without effect, and with disgrace.

Jdt 1:12

Therefore Nabuchodonosor was very angry with all this

country, and sware by his throne and kingdom, that he would

surely be avenged upon all those coasts of Cilicia, and

Damascus, and Syria, and that he would slay with the sword all

the inhabitants of the land of Moab, and the children of Ammon,

and all Judea, and all that were in Egypt, till ye come to the

borders of the two seas.

Jdt 1:13

Then he marched in battle array with his power against king

Arphaxad in the seventeenth year, and he prevailed in his

battle: for he overthrew all the power of Arphaxad, and all his

horsemen, and all his chariots,

Jdt 1:14

And became lord of his cities, and came unto Ecbatane, and

took the towers, and spoiled the streets thereof, and turned the

beauty thereof into shame.

Jdt 1:15

He took also Arphaxad in the mountains of Ragau, and smote him through with his darts, and destroyed him utterly that day.

Jdt 1:16

So he returned afterward to Nineve, both he and all his company of sundry nations being a very great multitude of men of war, and there he took his ease, and banqueted, both he and his army, an hundred and twenty days.

Jdt 2:1
And in the eighteenth year, the two and twentieth day of the

first month, there was talk in the house of Nabuchodonosor king

of the Assyrians that he should, as he said, avenge himself on

all the earth.

Jdt 2:2

So he called unto him all his officers, and all his nobles, and communicated with them his secret counsel, and concluded the afflicting of the whole earth out of his own mouth.

Jdt 2:3
Then they decreed to destroy all flesh, that did not obey the

commandment of his mouth.

Jdt 2:4

And when he had ended his counsel, Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians called Holofernes the chief captain of his army, which was next unto him, and said unto him.

Jdt 2:5
Thus saith the great king, the lord of the whole earth,

Behold, thou shalt go forth from my presence, and take with thee

men that trust in their own strength, of footmen an hundred and

twenty thousand; and the number of horses with their riders

twelve thousand.

Jdt 2:6

And thou shalt go against all the west country, because they

disobeyed my commandment.

Jdt 2:7

And thou shalt declare unto that they prepare for me earth and water: for I will go forth in my wrath against them and will cover the whole face of the earth with the feet of mine army, and I will give them for a spoil unto them:

Jdt 2:8
So that their slain shall fill their valleys and brooks and the river shall be filled with their dead, till it overflow:

Jdt 2:9
And I will lead them captives to the utmost parts of all the

earth.

Jdt 2:10

Thou therefore shalt go forth. and take beforehand for me all their coasts: and if they will yield themselves unto thee, thou shalt reserve them for me till the day of their punishment.

Jdt 2:11
But concerning them that rebel, let not thine eye spare them;

but put them to the slaughter, and spoil them wheresoever thou

goest.

Jdt 2:12

For as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, whatsoever I have spoken, that will I do by mine hand.

Jdt 2:13
And take thou heed that thou transgress none of the commandments of thy lord, but accomplish them fully, as I have commanded thee, and defer not to do them.

Jdt 2:14
Then Holofernes went forth from the presence of his lord, and

called ail the governors and captains, and the officers of the

army of Assur;

Jdt 2:15

And he mustered the chosen men for the battle, as his lord had commanded him, unto an hundred and twenty thousand, and twelve thousand archers on horseback;

Jdt 2:16
And he ranged them, as a great army is ordered for the war.

Jdt 2:17

And he took camels and asses for their carriages, a very

great number; and sheep and oxen and goats without number for their provision:

Jdt 2:18
And plenty of victual for every man of the army, and very

much gold and silver out of the king’s house.

Jdt 2:19

Then he went forth and all his power to go before king

Nabuchodonosor in the voyage, and to cover all the face of the

earth westward with their chariots, and horsemen, and their

chosen footmen.

Jdt 2:20

A great number also sundry countries came with them like

locusts, and like the sand of the earth: for the multitude was

without number.

Jdt 2:21

And they went forth of Nineve three days’ journey toward the plain of Bectileth, and pitched from Bectileth near the mountain which is at the left hand of the upper Cilicia.

Jdt 2:22
Then he took all his army, his footmen, and horsemen and chariots, and went from thence into the hill country;

Jdt 2:23
And destroyed Phud and Lud, and spoiled all the children of Rasses, and the children of Israel, which were toward the wilderness at the south of the land of the Chellians.

Jdt 2:24
Then he went over Euphrates, and went through Mesopotamia,

and destroyed all the high cities that were upon the river

Arbonai, till ye come to the sea.

Jdt 2:25

And he took the borders of Cilicia, and killed all that resisted him, and came to the borders of Japheth, which were toward the south, over against Arabia.

Jdt 2:26
He compassed also all the children of Madian, and burned up their tabernacles, and spoiled their sheepcotes.

Jdt 2:27
Then he went down into the plain of Damascus in the time of

wheat harvest, and burnt up all their fields, and destroyed

their flocks and herds, also he spoiled their cities, and

utterly wasted their countries, and smote all their young men

with the edge of the sword.

Jdt 2:28

Therefore the fear and dread of him fell upon all the

inhabitants of the sea coasts, which were in Sidon and Tyrus,

and them that dwelt in Sur and Ocina, and all that dwelt in

Jemnaan; and they that dwelt in Azotus and Ascalon feared him

greatly.

Jdt 3:1

So they sent ambassadors unto him to treat of peace, saying,

Jdt 3:2
Behold, we the servants of Nabuchodonosor the great king lie before thee; use us as shall be good in thy sight.

Jdt 3:3
Behold, our houses, and all our places, and all our fields of wheat, and flocks, and herds, and all the lodges of our tents lie before thy face; use them as it pleaseth thee.

Jdt 3:4
Behold, even our cities and the inhabitants thereof are thy servants; come and deal with them as seemeth good unto thee.

Jdt 3:5
So the men came to Holofernes, and declared unto him after

this manner.

Jdt 3:6

Then came he down toward the sea coast, both he and his army,

and set garrisons in the high cities, and took out of them

chosen men for aid.

Jdt 3:7

So they and all the country round about received them with

garlands, with dances, and with timbrels.

Jdt 3:8

Yet he did cast down their frontiers, and cut down their groves: for he had decreed to destroy all the gods of the land, that all nations should worship Nabuchodonosor only, and that all tongues and tribes should call upon him as god.

Jdt 3:9
Also he came over against Esdraelon near unto Judea, over against the great strait of Judea.

Jdt 3:10
And he pitched between Geba and Scythopolis, and there he

tarried a whole month, that he might gather together all the

carriages of his army.

Jdt 4:1

Now the children of Israel, that dwelt in Judea, heard all that Holofernes the chief captain of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and after what manner he had spoiled all their temples, and brought them to nought.

Jdt 4:2

Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled for Jerusalem, and for the temple of the Lord their God:

Jdt 4:3
For they were newly returned from the captivity, and all the

people of Judea were lately gathered together: and the vessels,

and the altar, and the house, were sanctified after the

profanation.

Jdt 4:4

Therefore they sent into all the coasts of Samaria, and the villages and to Bethoron, and Belmen, and Jericho, and to Choba, and Esora, and to the valley of Salem:

Jdt 4:5
And possessed themselves beforehand of all the tops of the

high mountains, and fortified the villages that were in them,

and laid up victuals for the provision of war: for their fields

were of late reaped.

Jdt 4:6

Also Joacim the high priest, which was in those days in

Jerusalem, wrote to them that dwelt in Bethulia, and

Betomestham, which is over against Esdraelon toward the open

country, near to Dothaim,

Jdt 4:7

Charging them to keep the passages of the hill country: for

by them there was an entrance into Judea, and it was easy to

stop them that would come up, because the passage was straight,

for two men at the most.

Jdt 4:8

And the children of Israel did as Joacim the high priest had

commanded them, with the ancients of all the people of Israel,

which dwelt at Jerusalem.

Jdt 4:9

Then every man of Israel cried to God with great fervency, and with great vehemency did they humble their souls:

Jdt 4:10

Both they, and their wives and their children, and their

cattle, and every stranger and hireling, and their servants

bought with money, put sackcloth upon their loins.

Jdt 4:11
Thus every man and women, and the little children, and the

inhabitants of Jerusalem, fell before the temple, and cast ashes

upon their heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the face

of the Lord: also they put sackcloth about the altar,

Jdt 4:12
And cried to the God of Israel all with one consent

earnestly, that he would not give their children for a prey, and

their wives for a spoil, and the cities of their inheritance to

destruction, and the sanctuary to profanation and reproach, and

for the nations to rejoice at.

Jdt 4:13

So God heard their prayers, and looked upon their afflictions: for the people fasted many days in all Judea and Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty.

Jdt 4:14
And Joacim the high priest, and all the priests that stood

before the Lord, and they which ministered unto the Lord, had

their loins girt with sackcloth, and offered the daily burnt

offerings, with the vows and free gifts of the people,

Jdt 4:15
And had ashes on their mitres, and cried unto the Lord with

all their power, that he would look upon all the house of Israel

graciously.

Jdt 5:1

Then was it declared to Holofernes, the chief captain of the

army of Assur, that the children of Israel had prepared for war, and had shut up the passages of the hill country, and had fortified all the tops of the high hills and had laid impediments in the champaign countries:

Jdt 5:2
Wherewith he was very angry, and called all the princes of

Moab, and the captains of Ammon, and all the governors of the

sea coast,

Jdt 5:3

And he said unto them, Tell me now, ye sons of Chanaan, who this people is, that dwelleth in the hill country, and what are the cities that they inhabit, and what is the multitude of their army, and wherein is their power and strength, and what king is set over them, or captain of their army;

Jdt 5:4
And why have they determined not to come and meet me, more than all the inhabitants of the west.

Jdt 5:5
Then said Achior, the captain of all the sons of Ammon, Let my lord now hear a word from the mouth of thy servant, and I will declare unto thee the truth concerning this people, which dwelleth near thee, and inhabiteth the hill countries: and there shall no lie come out of the mouth of thy servant.

Jdt 5:6
This people are descended of the Chaldeans:

Jdt 5:7
And they sojourned heretofore in Mesopotamia, because they

would not follow the gods of their fathers, which were in the

land of Chaldea.

Jdt 5:8

For they left the way of their ancestors, and worshipped the

God of heaven, the God whom they knew: so they cast them out

from the face of their gods, and they fled into Mesopotamia, and

sojourned there many days.

Jdt 5:9

Then their God commanded them to depart from the place where

they sojourned, and to go into the land of Chanaan: where they

dwelt, and were increased with gold and silver, and with very

much cattle.

Jdt 5:10

But when a famine covered all the land of Chanaan, they went

down into Egypt, and sojourned there, while they were nourished,

and became there a great multitude, so that one could not number

their nation.

Jdt 5:11

Therefore the king of Egypt rose up against them, and dealt

subtilly with them, and brought them low with labouring in

brick, and made them slaves.

Jdt 5:12

Then they cried unto their God, and he smote all the land of

Egypt with incurable plagues: so the Egyptians cast them out of

their sight.

Jdt 5:13

And God dried the Red sea before them,

Jdt 5:14

And brought them to mount Sina, and Cades-Barne, and cast

forth all that dwelt in the wilderness.

Jdt 5:15

So they dwelt in the land of the Amorites, and they destroyed by their strength all them of Esebon, and passing over Jordan they possessed all the hill country.

Jdt 5:16
And they cast forth before them the Chanaanite, the Pherezite, the Jebusite, and the Sychemite, and all the Gergesites, and they dwelt in that country many days.

Jdt 5:17
And whilst they sinned not before their God, they prospered, because the God that hateth iniquity was with them.

Jdt 5:18
But when they departed from the way which he appointed them,

they were destroyed in many battles very sore, and were led

captives into a land that was not their’s, and the temple of

their God was cast to the ground, and their cities were taken by

the enemies.

Jdt 5:19

But now are they returned to their God, and are come up from

the places where they were scattered, and have possessed

Jerusalem, where their sanctuary is, and are seated in the hill

country; for it was desolate.

Jdt 5:20

Now therefore, my lord and governor, if there be any error

against this people, and they sin against their God, let us

consider that this shall be their ruin, and let us go up, and we

shall overcome them.

Jdt 5:21

But if there be no iniquity in their nation, let my lord now

pass by, lest their Lord defend them, and their God be for them,

and we become a reproach before all the world.

Jdt 5:22

And when Achior had finished these sayings, all the people

standing round about the tent murmured, and the chief men of

Holofernes, and all that dwelt by the sea side, and in Moab,

spake that he should kill him.

Jdt 5:23

For, say they, we will not be afraid of the face of the

children of Israel: for, lo, it is a people that have no

strength nor power for a strong battle

Jdt 5:24

Now therefore, lord Holofernes, we will go up, and they shall be a prey to be devoured of all thine army.

Jdt 6:1
And when the tumult of men that were about the council was

ceased, Holofernes the chief captain of the army of Assur said

unto Achior and all the Moabites before all the company of other

nations,

Jdt 6:2

And who art thou, Achior, and the hirelings of Ephraim, that thou hast prophesied against us as to day, and hast said, that we should not make war with the people of Israel, because their God will defend them? and who is God but Nabuchodonosor?

Jdt 6:3
He will send his power, and will destroy them from the face

of the earth, and their God shall not deliver them: but we his

servants will destroy them as one man; for they are not able to

sustain the power of our horses.

Jdt 6:4

For with them we will tread them under foot, and their

mountains shall be drunken with their blood, and their fields

shall be filled with their dead bodies, and their footsteps

shall not be able to stand before us, for they shall utterly

perish, saith king Nabuchodonosor, lord of all the earth: for he

said, None of my words shall be in vain.

Jdt 6:5

And thou, Achior, an hireling of Ammon, which hast spoken

these words in the day of thine iniquity, shalt see my face no

more from this day, until I take vengeance of this nation that

came out of Egypt.

Jdt 6:6

And then shall the sword of mine army, and the multitude of them that serve me, pass through thy sides, and thou shalt fall among their slain, when I return.

Jdt 6:7
Now therefore my servants shall bring thee back into the hill country, and shall set thee in one of the cities of the passages:

Jdt 6:8
And thou shalt not perish, till thou be destroyed with them.

Jdt 6:9
And if thou persuade thyself in thy mind that they shall be

taken, let not thy countenance fall: I have spoken it, and none

of my words shall be in vain.

Jdt 6:10

Then Holofernes commanded his servants, that waited in his tent, to take Achior, and bring him to Bethulia, and deliver him into the hands of the children of Israel.

Jdt 6:11
So his servants took him, and brought him out of the camp

into the plain, and they went from the midst of the plain into

the hill country, and came unto the fountains that were under

Bethulia.

Jdt 6:12

And when the men of the city saw them, they took up their

weapons, and went out of the city to the top of the hill: and

every man that used a sling kept them from coming up by casting

of stones against them.

Jdt 6:13

Nevertheless having gotten privily under the hill, they bound

Achior, and cast him down, and left him at the foot of the hill,

and returned to their lord.

Jdt 6:14

But the Israelites descended from their city, and came unto him, and loosed him, and brought him to Bethulia, and presented him to the governors of the city:

Jdt 6:15
Which were in those days Ozias the son of Micha, of the tribe

of Simeon, and Chabris the son of Gothoniel, and Charmis the son

of Melchiel.

Jdt 6:16

And they called together all the ancients of the city, and

all their youth ran together, and their women, to the assembly,

and they set Achior in the midst of all their people. Then Ozias

asked him of that which was done.

Jdt 6:17

And he answered and declared unto them the words of the council of Holofernes, and all the words that he had spoken in the midst of the princes of Assur, and whatsoever Holofernes had spoken proudly against the house of Israel.

Jdt 6:18
Then the people fell down and worshipped God, and cried unto

God. saying,

Jdt 6:19

O Lord God of heaven, behold their pride, and pity the low

estate of our nation, and look upon the face of those that are

sanctified unto thee this day.

Jdt 6:20

Then they comforted Achior, and praised him greatly.

Jdt 6:21
And Ozias took him out of the assembly unto his house, and

made a feast to the elders; and they called on the God of Israel

all that night for help.

Jdt 7:1

The next day Holofernes commanded all his army, and all his

people which were come to take his part, that they should remove

their camp against Bethulia, to take aforehand the ascents of

the hill country, and to make war against the children of

Israel.

Jdt 7:2

Then their strong men removed their camps in that day, and the army of the men of war was an hundred and seventy thousand footmen, and twelve thousand horsemen, beside the baggage, and other men that were afoot among them, a very great multitude.

Jdt 7:3
And they camped in the valley near unto Bethulia, by the
fountain, and they spread themselves in breadth over Dothaim

even to Belmaim, and in length from Bethulia unto Cynamon, which

is over against Esdraelon.

Jdt 7:4

Now the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of

them, were greatly troubled, and said every one to his

neighbour, Now will these men lick up the face of the earth; for

neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills, are

able to bear their weight.

Jdt 7:5

Then every man took up his weapons of war, and when they had

kindled fires upon their towers, they remained and watched all

that night.

Jdt 7:6

But in the second day Holofernes brought forth all his

horsemen in the sight of the children of Israel which were in

Bethulia,

Jdt 7:7

And viewed the passages up to the city, and came to the fountains of their waters, and took them, and set garrisons of men of war over them, and he himself removed toward his people.

Jdt 7:8
Then came unto him all the chief of the children of Esau, and

all the governors of the people of Moab, and the captains of the

sea coast, and said,

Jdt 7:9

Let our lord now hear a word, that there be not an overthrow

in thine army.

Jdt 7:10

For this people of the children of Israel do not trust in

their spears, but in the height of the mountains wherein they

dwell, because it is not easy to come up to the tops of their

mountains.

Jdt 7:11

Now therefore, my lord, fight not against them in battle

array, and there shall not so much as one man of thy people

perish.

Jdt 7:12

Remain in thy camp, and keep all the men of thine army, and let thy servants get into their hands the fountain of water, which issueth forth of the foot of the mountain:

Jdt 7:13
For all the inhabitants of Bethulia have their water thence;

so shall thirst kill them, and they shall give up their city,

and we and our people shall go up to the tops of the mountains

that are near, and will camp upon them, to watch that none go

out of the city.

Jdt 7:14

So they and their wives and their children shall be consumed with fire, and before the sword come against them, they shall be overthrown in the streets where they dwell.

Jdt 7:15

Thus shalt thou render them an evil reward; because they

rebelled, and met not thy person peaceably.

Jdt 7:16
And these words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and he appointed to do as they had spoken.

Jdt 7:17
So the camp of the children of Ammon departed, and with them

five thousand of the Assyrians, and they pitched in the valley,

and took the waters, and the fountains of the waters of the

children of Israel.

Jdt 7:18

Then the children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon, and camped in the hill country over against Dothaim: and they sent some of them toward the south, and toward the east over against Ekrebel, which is near unto Chusi, that is upon the brook Mochmur; and the rest of the army of the Assyrians camped in the plain, and covered the face of the whole land; and their tents and carriages were pitched to a very great multitude.

Jdt 7:19
Then the children of Israel cried unto the Lord their God,

because their heart failed, for all their enemies had compassed

them round about, and there was no way to escape out from among

them.

Jdt 7:20

Thus all the company of Assur remained about them, both their

footmen, chariots, and horsemen, four and thirty days, so that

all their vessels of water failed all the inhibitants of

Bethulia.

Jdt 7:21

And the cisterns were emptied, and they had not water to

drink their fill for one day; for they gave them drink by

measure.

Jdt 7:22

Therefore their young children were out of heart, and their women and young men fainted for thirst, and fell down in the streets of the city, and by the passages of the gates, and there was no longer any strength in them.

Jdt 7:23
Then all the people assembled to Ozias, and to the chief of

the city, both young men, and women, and children, and cried

with a loud voice, and said before all the elders,

Jdt 7:24

God be judge between us and you: for ye have done us great

injury, in that ye have not required peace of the children of

Assur.

Jdt 7:25

For now we have no helper: but God hath sold us into their

hands, that we should be thrown down before them with thirst and

great destruction.

Jdt 7:26

Now therefore call them unto you, and deliver the whole city for a spoil to the people of Holofernes, and to all his army.

Jdt 7:27
For it is better for us to be made a spoil unto them, than to die for thirst: for we will be his servants, that our souls may live, and not see the death of our infants before our eyes, nor our wives nor our children to die.

Jdt 7:28
We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and

our God and Lord of our fathers, which punisheth us according to

our sins and the sins of our fathers, that he do not according

as we have said this day.

Jdt 7:29

Then there was great weeping with one consent in the midst of

the assembly; and they cried unto the Lord God with a loud

voice.

Jdt 7:30

Then said Ozias to them, Brethren, be of good courage, let us yet endure five days, in the which space the Lord our God may turn his mercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly.

Jdt 7:31
And if these days pass, and there come no help unto us, I will do according to your word.

Jdt 7:32
And he dispersed the people, every one to their own charge;

and they went unto the walls and towers of their city, and sent

the women and children into their houses: and they were very low

brought in the city.

Jdt 8:1

Now at that time Judith heard thereof, which was the daughter

of Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Joseph, the son of Ozel,

the son of Elcia, the son of Ananias, the son of Gedeon, the son

of Raphaim, the son of Acitho, the son of Eliu, the son of

Eliab, the son of Nathanael, the son of Samael, the son of

Salasadal, the son of Israel.

Jdt 8:2

And Manasses was her husband, of her tribe and kindred, who

died in the barley harvest.

Jdt 8:3

For as he stood overseeing them that bound sheaves in the

field, the heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and

died in the city of Bethulia: and they buried him with his

fathers in the field between Dothaim and Balamo.

Jdt 8:4

So Judith was a widow in her house three years and four

months.

Jdt 8:5

And she made her a tent upon the top of her house, and put on sackcloth upon her loins and ware her widow’s apparel.

Jdt 8:6
And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, save the eves

of the sabbaths, and the sabbaths, and the eves of the new

moons, and the new moons and the feasts and solemn days of the

house of Israel.

Jdt 8:7

She was also of a goodly countenance, and very beautiful to

behold: and her husband Manasses had left her gold, and silver,

and menservants and maidservants, and cattle, and lands; and she

remained upon them.

Jdt 8:8

And there was none that gave her an ill word; ar she feared

God greatly.

Jdt 8:9

Now when she heard the evil words of the people against the

governor, that they fainted for lack of water; for Judith had

heard all the words that Ozias had spoken unto them, and that he

had sworn to deliver the city unto the Assyrians after five

days;

Jdt 8:10

Then she sent her waitingwoman, that had the government of

all things that she had, to call Ozias and Chabris and Charmis,

the ancients of the city.

Jdt 8:11

And they came unto her, and she said unto them, Hear me now, O ye governors of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your words that ye have spoken before the people this day are not right, touching this oath which ye made and pronounced between God and you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, unless within these days the Lord turn to help you.

Jdt 8:12
And now who are ye that have tempted God this day, and stand instead of God among the children of men?

Jdt 8:13
And now try the Lord Almighty, but ye shall never know any

thing.

Jdt 8:14

For ye cannot find the depth of the heart of man, neither can

ye perceive the things that he thinketh: then how can ye search

out God, that hath made all these things, and know his mind, or

comprehend his purpose? Nay, my brethren, provoke not the Lord

our God to anger.

Jdt 8:15

For if he will not help us within these five days, he hath

power to defend us when he will, even every day, or to destroy

us before our enemies.

Jdt 8:16

Do not bind the counsels of the Lord our God: for God is not as man, that he may be threatened; neither is he as the son of man, that he should be wavering.

Jdt 8:17
Therefore let us wait for salvation of him, and call upon him
to help us, and he will hear our voice, if it please him.

Jdt 8:18
For there arose none in our age, neither is there any now in these days neither tribe, nor family, nor people, nor city among us, which worship gods made with hands, as hath been aforetime.

Jdt 8:19
For the which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for a spoil, and had a great fall before our enemies.

Jdt 8:20
But we know none other god, therefore we trust that he will not dispise us, nor any of our nation.

Jdt 8:21
For if we be taken so, all Judea shall lie waste, and our

sanctuary shall be spoiled; and he will require the profanation

thereof at our mouth.

Jdt 8:22

And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captivity of the

country, and the desolation of our inheritance, will he turn

upon our heads among the Gentiles, wheresoever we shall be in

bondage; and we shall be an offence and a reproach to all them

that possess us.

Jdt 8:23

For our servitude shall not be directed to favour: but the Lord our God shall turn it to dishonour.

Jdt 8:24
Now therefore, O brethren, let us shew an example to our brethren, because their hearts depend upon us, and the sanctuary, and the house, and the altar, rest upon us.

Jdt 8:25
Moreover let us give thanks to the Lord our God, which trieth

us, even as he did our fathers.

Jdt 8:26

Remember what things he did to Abraham, and how he tried Isaac, and what happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he kept the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother.

Jdt 8:27
For he hath not tried us in the fire, as he did them, for the

examination of their hearts, neither hath he taken vengeance on

us: but the Lord doth scourge them that come near unto him, to

admonish them.

Jdt 8:28

Then said Ozias to her, All that thou hast spoken hast thou

spoken with a good heart, and there is none that may gainsay thy

words.

Jdt 8:29

For this is not the first day wherein thy wisdom is

manifested; but from the beginning of thy days all the people

have known thy understanding, because the disposition of thine

heart is good.

Jdt 8:30

But the people were very thirsty, and compelled us to do unto

them as we have spoken, and to bring an oath upon ourselves,

which we will not break.

Jdt 8:31

Therefore now pray thou for us, because thou art a godly

woman, and the Lord will send us rain to fill our cisterns, and

we shall faint no more.

Jdt 8:32

Then said Judith unto them, Hear me, and I will do a thing,

which shall go throughout all generations to the children of our

nation.

Jdt 8:33

Ye shall stand this night in the gate, and I will go forth

with my waitingwoman: and within the days that ye have promised

to deliver the city to our enemies the Lord will visit Israel by

mine hand.

Jdt 8:34

But enquire not ye of mine act: for I will not declare it unto you, till the things be finished that I do.

Jdt 8:35
Then said Ozias and the princes unto her, Go in peace, and the Lord God be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies.

Jdt 8:36
So they returned from the tent, and went to their wards.

Jdt 9:1
Judith fell upon her face, and put ashes upon her head, and

uncovered the sackcloth wherewith she was clothed; and about the

time that the incense of that evening was offered in Jerusalem

in the house of the Lord Judith cried with a loud voice, and

said,

Jdt 9:2

O Lord God of my father Simeon, to whom thou gavest a sword to take vengeance of the strangers, who loosened the girdle of a maid to defile her, and discovered the thigh to her shame, and polluted her virginity to her reproach; for thou saidst, It shall not be so; and yet they did so:

Jdt 9:3
Wherefore thou gavest their rulers to be slain, so that they dyed their bed in blood, being deceived, and smotest the servants with their lords, and the lords upon their thrones;

Jdt 9:4
And hast given their wives for a prey, and their daughters to

be captives, and all their spoils to be divided among thy dear

children; which were moved with thy zeal, and abhorred the

pollution of their blood, and called upon thee for aid: O God, O

my God, hear me also a widow.

Jdt 9:5

For thou hast wrought not only those things, but also the things which fell out before, and which ensued after; thou hast thought upon the things which are now, and which are to come.

Jdt 9:6
Yea, what things thou didst determine were ready at hand, and said, Lo, we are here: for all thy ways are prepared, and thy judgments are in thy foreknowledge.

Jdt 9:7
For, behold, the Assyrians are multiplied in their power;

they are exalted with horse and man; they glory in the strength

of their footmen; they trust in shield, and spear, and bow, and

sling; and know not that thou art the Lord that breakest the

battles: the Lord is thy name.

Jdt 9:8

Throw down their strength in thy power, and bring down their force in thy wrath: for they have purposed to defile thy sanctuary, and to pollute the tabernacle where thy glorious name resteth and to cast down with sword the horn of thy altar.

Jdt 9:9
Behold their pride, and send thy wrath upon their heads: give

into mine hand, which am a widow, the power that I have

conceived.

Jdt 9:10

Smite by the deceit of my lips the servant with the prince,

and the prince with the servant: break down their stateliness by

the hand of a woman.

Jdt 9:11

For thy power standeth not in multitude nor thy might in strong men: for thou art a God of the afflicted, an helper of the oppressed, an upholder of the weak, a protector of the forlorn, a saviour of them that are without hope.

Jdt 9:12
I pray thee, I pray thee, O God of my father, and God of the inheritance of Israel, Lord of the heavens and earth, Creator of the waters, king of every creature, hear thou my prayer:

Jdt 9:13
And make my speech and deceit to be their wound and stripe, who have purposed cruel things against thy covenant, and thy hallowed house, and against the top of Sion, and against the house of the possession of thy children.

Jdt 9:14
And make every nation and tribe to acknowledge that thou art the God of all power and might, and that there is none other that protecteth the people of Israel but thou.

Jdt 10:1
Now after that she had ceased to cry unto the God of Israel, and bad made an end of all these words.

Jdt 10:2
She rose where she had fallen down, and called her maid, and

went down into the house in the which she abode in the sabbath

days, and in her feast days,

Jdt 10:3

And pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off

the garments of her widowhood, and washed her body all over with

water, and anointed herself with precious ointment, and braided

the hair of her head, and put on a tire upon it, and put on her

garments of gladness, wherewith she was clad during the life of

Manasses her husband.

Jdt 10:4

And she took sandals upon her feet, and put about her her bracelets, and her chains, and her rings, and her earrings, and all her ornaments, and decked herself bravely, to allure the eyes of all men that should see her.

Jdt 10:5
Then she gave her maid a bottle of wine, and a cruse of oil,

and filled a bag with parched corn, and lumps of figs, and with

fine bread; so she folded all these things together, and laid

them upon her.

Jdt 10:6

Thus they went forth to the gate of the city of Bethulia, and

found standing there Ozias and the ancients of the city, Chabris

and Charmis.

Jdt 10:7

And when they saw her, that her countenance was altered, and

her apparel was changed, they wondered at her beauty very

greatly, and said unto her.

Jdt 10:8

The God, the God of our fathers give thee favour, and

accomplish thine enterprizes to the glory of the children of

Israel, and to the exaltation of Jerusalem. Then they worshipped

God.

Jdt 10:9

And she said unto them, Command the gates of the city to be opened unto me, that I may go forth to accomplish the things whereof ye have spoken with me. So they commanded the young men to open unto her, as she had spoken.

Jdt 10:10
And when they had done so, Judith went out, she, and her maid

with her; and the men of the city looked after her, until she

was gone down the mountain, and till she had passed the valley,

and could see her no more.

Jdt 10:11

Thus they went straight forth in the valley: and the first

watch of the Assyrians met her,

Jdt 10:12

And took her, and asked her, Of what people art thou? and whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? And she said, I am a woman of the Hebrews, and am fled from them: for they shall be given you to be consumed:

Jdt 10:13
And I am coming before Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to declare words of truth; and I will shew him a way, whereby he shall go, and win all the hill country, without losing the body or life of any one of his men.

Jdt 10:14
Now when the men heard her words, and beheld her countenance,

they wondered greatly at her beauty, and said unto her,

Jdt 10:15
Thou hast saved thy life, in that thou hast hasted to come

down to the presence of our lord: now therefore come to his

tent, and some of us shall conduct thee, until they have

delivered thee to his hands.

Jdt 10:16

And when thou standest before him, be not afraid in thine

heart, but shew unto him according to thy word; and he will

entreat thee well.

Jdt 10:17

Then they chose out of them an hundred men to accompany her and her maid; and they brought her to the tent of Holofernes.

Jdt 10:18
Then was there a concourse throughout all the camp: for her

coming was noised among the tents, and they came about her, as

she stood without the tent of Holofernes, till they told him of

her.

Jdt 10:19

And they wondered at her beauty, and admired the children of

Israel because of her, and every one said to his neighbour, Who

would despise this people, that have among them such women?

surely it is not good that one man of them be left who being let

go might deceive the whole earth.

Jdt 10:20

And they that lay near Holofernes went out, and all his

servants and they brought her into the tent.

Jdt 10:21
Now Holofernes rested upon his bed under a canopy, which was woven with purple, and gold, and emeralds, and precious stones.

Jdt 10:22
So they shewed him of her; and he came out before his tent with silver lamps going before him.

Jdt 10:23
And when Judith was come before him and his servants they all

marvelled at the beauty of her countenance; and she fell down

upon her face, and did reverence unto him: and his servants took

her up.

Jdt 11:1

Then said Holofernes unto her, Woman, be of good comfort,

fear not in thine heart: for I never hurt any that was willing

to serve Nabuchodonosor, the king of all the earth.

Jdt 11:2

Now therefore, if thy people that dwelleth in the mountains had not set light by me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them: but they have done these things to themselves.

Jdt 11:3
But now tell me wherefore thou art fled from them, and art come unto us: for thou art come for safeguard; be of good comfort, thou shalt live this night, and hereafter:

Jdt 11:4
For none shall hurt thee, but entreat thee well, as they do the servants of king Nabuchodonosor my lord.

Jdt 11:5
Then Judith said unto him, Receive the words of thy servant, and suffer thine handmaid to speak in thy presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this night.

Jdt 11:6
And if thou wilt follow the words of thine handmaid, God will

bring the thing perfectly to pass by thee; and my lord shall not

fail of his purposes.

Jdt 11:7

As Nabuchodonosor king of all the earth liveth, and as his

power liveth, who hath sent thee for the upholding of every

living thing: for not only men shall serve him by thee, but also

the beasts of the field, and the cattle, and the fowls of the

air, shall live by thy power under Nabuchodonosor and all his

house.

Jdt 11:8

For we have heard of thy wisdom and thy policies, and it is

reported in all the earth, that thou only art excellent in all

the kingdom, and mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of

war.

Jdt 11:9

Now as concerning the matter, which Achior did speak in thy council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared unto them all that he had spoken unto thee.

Jdt 11:10
Therefore, O lord and governor, respect not his word; but lay

it up in thine heart, for it is true: for our nation shall not

be punished, neither can sword prevail against them, except they

sin against their God.

Jdt 11:11

And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his purpose, even death is now fallen upon them, and their sin hath overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger whensoever they shall do that which is not fit to be done:

Jdt 11:12
For their victuals fail them, and all their water is scant, and they have determined to lay hands upon their cattle, and purposed to consume all those things, that God hath forbidden them to eat by his laws:

Jdt 11:13
And are resolved to spend the firstfruits of the the tenths

of wine and oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the

priests that serve in Jerusalem before the face of our God; the

which things it is not lawful for any of the people so much as

to touch with their hands.

Jdt 11:14

For they have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done the like, to bring them a licence from the senate.

Jdt 11:15
Now when they shall bring them word, they will forthwith do

it, and they shall be given to thee to be destroyed the same

day.

Jdt 11:16

Wherefore I thine handmaid, knowing all this, am fled from

their presence; and God hath sent me to work things with thee,

whereat all the earth shall be astonished, and whosoever shall

hear it.

Jdt 11:17

For thy servant is religious, and serveth the God of heaven day and night: now therefore, my lord, I will remain with thee, and thy servant will go out by night into the valley, and I will pray unto God, and he will tell me when they have committed their sins:

Jdt 11:18
And I will come and shew it unto thee: then thou shalt go

forth with all thine army, and there shall be none of them that

shall resist thee.

Jdt 11:19

And I will lead thee through the midst of Judea, until thou come before Jerusalem; and I will set thy throne in the midst thereof; and thou shalt drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog shall not so much as open his mouth at thee: for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and they were declared unto me, and I am sent to tell thee.

Jdt 11:20
Then her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; and

they marvelled at her wisdom, and said,

Jdt 11:21

There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, both for beauty of face, and wisdom of words.

Jdt 11:22
Likewise Holofernes said unto her. God hath done well to send thee before the people, that strength might be in our hands and destruction upon them that lightly regard my lord.

Jdt 11:23
And now thou art both beautiful in thy countenance, and witty in thy words: surely if thou do as thou hast spoken thy God shall be my God, and thou shalt dwell in the house of king Nabuchodonosor, and shalt be renowned through the whole earth.

Jdt 12:1
Then he commanded to bring her in where his plate was set; and bade that they should prepare for her of his own meats, and that she should drink of his own wine.

Jdt 12:2
And Judith said, I will not eat thereof, lest there be an

offence: but provision shall be made for me of the things that I

have brought.

Jdt 12:3

Then Holofernes said unto her, If thy provision should fail,

how should we give thee the like? for there be none with us of

thy nation.

Jdt 12:4

Then said Judith unto him As thy soul liveth, my lord, thine handmaid shall not spend those things that I have, before the Lord work by mine hand the things that he hath determined.

Jdt 12:5
Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent,

and she slept till midnight, and she arose when it was toward

the morning watch,

Jdt 12:6

And sent to Holofernes, saving, Let my lord now command that thine handmaid may go forth unto prayer.

Jdt 12:7
Then Holofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay

her: thus she abode in the camp three days, and went out in the

night into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a

fountain of water by the camp.

Jdt 12:8

And when she came out, she besought the Lord God of Israel to direct her way to the raising up of the children of her people.

Jdt 12:9
So she came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she did

eat her meat at evening.

Jdt 12:10

And in the fourth day Holofernes made a feast to his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.

Jdt 12:11
Then said he to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, Go now, and persuade this Hebrew woman which is with thee, that she come unto us, and eat and drink with us.

Jdt 12:12
For, lo, it will be a shame for our person, if we shall let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we draw her not unto us, she will laugh us to scorn.

Jdt 12:13
Then went Bagoas from the presence of Holofernes, and came to her, and he said, Let not this fair damsel fear to come to my lord, and to be honoured in his presence, and drink wine, and be merry with us and be made this day as one of the daughters of the Assyrians, which serve in the house of Nabuchodonosor.

Jdt 12:14

Then said Judith unto him, Who am I now, that I should gainsay my lord? surely whatsoever pleaseth him I will do speedily, and it shall be my joy unto the day of my death.

Jdt 12:15
So she arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her

woman’s attire, and her maid went and laid soft skins on the

ground for her over against Holofernes, which she had received

of Bagoas far her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon

them.

Jdt 12:16

Now when Judith came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart

was ravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired

greatly her company; for he waited a time to deceive her, from

the day that he had seen her.

Jdt 12:17

Then said Holofernes unto her, Drink now, and be merry with

us.

Jdt 12:18

So Judith said, I will drink now, my lord, because my life is

magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was

born.

Jdt 12:19

Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had

prepared.

Jdt 12:20

And Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank more wine than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.

Jdt 13:1
Now when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut his tent without, and dismissed the waiters from the presence of his lord; and they went to their beds: for they were all weary, because the feast had been long.

Jdt 13:2
And Judith was left along in the tent, and Holofernes lying

along upon his bed: for he was filled with wine.

Jdt 13:3

Now Judith had commanded her maid to stand without her bedchamber, and to wait for her. coming forth, as she did daily: for she said she would go forth to her prayers, and she spake to Bagoas according to the same purpose.

Jdt 13:4
So all went forth and none was left in the bedchamber, neither little nor great. Then Judith, standing by his bed, said in her heart, O Lord God of all power, look at this present upon the works of mine hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.

Jdt 13:5
For now is the time to help thine inheritance, and to execute

thine enterprizes to the destruction of the enemies which are

risen against us.

Jdt 13:6

Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at

Holofernes’ head, and took down his fauchion from thence,

Jdt 13:7
And approached to his bed, and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day.

Jdt 13:8
And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she took away his head from him.

Jdt 13:9
And tumbled his body down from the bed, and pulled down the

canopy from the pillars; and anon after she went forth, and gave

Holofernes his head to her maid;

Jdt 13:10

And she put it in her bag of meat: so they twain went together according to their custom unto prayer: and when they passed the camp, they compassed the valley, and went up the mountain of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof.

Jdt 13:11
Then said Judith afar off, to the watchmen at the gate, Open,

open now the gate: God, even our God, is with us, to shew his

power yet in Jerusalem, and his forces against the enemy, as he

hath even done this day.

Jdt 13:12

Now when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste

to go down to the gate of their city, and they called the elders

of the city.

Jdt 13:13

And then they ran all together, both small and great, for it

was strange unto them that she was come: so they opened the

gate, and received them, and made a fire for a light, and stood

round about them.

Jdt 13:14

Then she said to them with a loud voice, Praise, praise God,

praise God, I say, for he hath not taken away his mercy from the

house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by mine hands

this night.

Jdt 13:15

So she took the head out of the bag, and shewed it, and said

unto them, behold the head of Holofernes, the chief captain of

the army of Assur, and behold the canopy, wherein he did lie in

his drunkenness; and the Lord hath smitten him by the hand of a

woman.

Jdt 13:16

As the Lord liveth, who hath kept me in my way that I went, my countenance hath deceived him to his destruction, and yet hath he not committed sin with me, to defile and shame me.

Jdt 13:17
Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed

themselves and worshipped God, and said with one accord, Blessed

be thou, O our God, which hast this day brought to nought the

enemies of thy people.

Jdt 13:18

Then said Ozias unto her, O daughter, blessed art thou of the

most high God above all the women upon the earth; and blessed be

the Lord God, which hath created the heavens and the earth,

which hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head of the

chief of our enemies.

Jdt 13:19

For this thy confidence shall not depart from the heart of

men, which remember the power of God for ever.

Jdt 13:20
And God turn these things to thee for a perpetual praise, to visit thee in good things because thou hast not spared thy life for the affliction of our nation, but hast revenged our ruin, walking a straight way before our God. And all the people said;

So be it, so be it.

Jdt 14:1

Then said Judith unto them, Hear me now, my brethren, and

take this head, and hang it upon the highest place of your

walls.

Jdt 14:2

And so soon as the morning shall appear, and the sun shall come forth upon the earth, take ye every one his weapons, and go forth every valiant man out of the city, and set ye a captain over them, as though ye would go down into the field toward the watch of the Assyrians; but go not down.

Jdt 14:3
Then they shall take their armour, and shall go into their camp, and raise up the captains of the army of Assur, and shall run to the tent of Holofernes, but shall not find him: then fear shall fall upon them, and they shall flee before your face.

Jdt 14:4
So ye, and all that inhabit the coast of Israel, shall pursue them, and overthrow them as they go.

Jdt 14:5
But before ye do these things, call me Achior the Ammonite, that he may see and know him that despised the house of Israel, and that sent him to us as it were to his death.

Jdt 14:6
Then they called Achior out of the house of Ozias; and when

he was come, and saw the head of Holofernes in a man’s hand in

the assembly of the people, he fell down on his face, and his

spirit failed.

Jdt 14:7

But when they had recovered him, he fell at Judith’s feet,

and reverenced her, and said, Blessed art thou in all the

tabernacles of Juda, and in all nations, which hearing thy name

shall be astonished.

Jdt 14:8

Now therefore tell me all the things that thou hast done in these days. Then Judith declared unto him in the midst of the people all that she had done, from the day that she went forth until that hour she spake unto them.

Jdt 14:9
And when she had left off speaking, the people shouted with a loud voice, and made a joyful noise in their city.

Jdt 14:10
And when Achior had seen all that the God of Israel had done, he believed in God greatly, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined unto the house of Israel unto this day.

Jdt 14:11
And as soon as the morning arose, they hanged the head of Holofernes upon the wall, and every man took his weapons, and they went forth by bands unto the straits of the mountain.

Jdt 14:12
But when the Assyrians saw them, they sent to their leaders,

which came to their captains and tribunes, and to every one of

their rulers.

Jdt 14:13

So they came to Holofernes’ tent, and said to him that had

the charge of all his things, Waken now our lord: for the slaves

have been bold to come down against us to battle, that they may

be utterly destroyed.

Jdt 14:14

Then went in Bagoas, and knocked at the door of the tent; for he thought that he had slept with Judith.

Jdt 14:15
But because none answered, he opened it, and went into the

bedchamber, and found him cast upon the floor dead, and his head

was taken from him.

Jdt 14:16

Therefore he cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and

sighing, and a mighty cry, and rent his garments.

Jdt 14:17
After he went into the tent where Judith lodged: and when he

found her not, he leaped out to the people, and cried,

Jdt 14:18

These slaves have dealt treacherously; one woman of the

Hebrews hath brought shame upon the house of king

Nabuchodonosor: for, behold, Holofernes lieth upon the ground

without a head.

Jdt 14:19

When the captains of the Assyrians’ army heard these words, they rent their coats and their minds were wonderfully troubled, and there was a cry and a very great noise throughout the camp.

Jdt 15:1

And when they that were in the tents heard, they were

astonished at the thing that was done.

Jdt 15:2
And fear and trembling fell upon them, so that there was no

man that durst abide in the sight of his neighbour, but rushing

out all together, they fled into every way of the plain, and of

the hill country.

Jdt 15:3

They also that had camped in the mountains round about Bethulia fled away. Then the children of Israel, every one that was a warrior among them, rushed out upon them.

Jdt 15:4
Then sent Ozias to Betomasthem, and to Bebai, and Chobai, and

Cola and to all the coasts of Israel, such as should tell the

things that were done, and that all should rush forth upon their

enemies to destroy them.

Jdt 15:5

Now when the children of Israel heard it, they all fell upon them with one consent, and slew them unto Chobai: likewise also they that came from Jerusalem, and from all the hill country, (for men had told them what things were done in the camp of their enemies) and they that were in Galaad, and in Galilee, chased them with a great slaughter, until they were past Damascus and the borders thereof.

Jdt 15:6
And the residue that dwelt at Bethulia, fell upon the camp of

Assur, and spoiled them, and were greatly enriched.

Jdt 15:7

And the children of Israel that returned from the slaughter

had that which remained; and the villages and the cities, that

were in the mountains and in the plain, gat many spoils: for the

multitude was very great.

Jdt 15:8

Then Joacim the high priest, and the ancients of the children

of Israel that dwelt in Jerusalem, came to behold the good

things that God had shewed to Israel, and to see Judith, and to

salute her.

Jdt 15:9

And when they came unto her, they blessed her with one accord, and said unto her, Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem, thou art the great glory of Israel, thou art the great rejoicing of our nation:

Jdt 15:10
Thou hast done all these things by thine hand: thou hast done

much good to Israel, and God is pleased therewith: blessed be

thou of the Almighty Lord for evermore. And all the people said,

So be it.

Jdt 15:11

And the people spoiled the camp the space of thirty days: and

they gave unto Judith Holofernes his tent, and all his plate,

and beds, and vessels, and all his stuff: and she took it and

laid it on her mule; and made ready her carts, and laid them

thereon.

Jdt 15:12

Then all the women of Israel ran together to see her, and

blessed her, and made a dance among them for her: and she took

branches in her hand, and gave also to the women that were with

her.

Jdt 15:13

And they put a garland of olive upon her and her maid that was with her, and she went before all the people in the dance, leading all the women: and all the men of Israel followed in their armour with garlands, and with songs in their mouths.

Jdt 16:1
Then Judith began to sing this thanksgiving in all Israel, and all the people sang after her this song of praise.

Jdt 16:2
And Judith said, Begin unto my God with timbrels, sing unto

my Lord with cymbals: tune unto him a new psalm: exalt him, and

call upon his name.

Jdt 16:3

For God breaketh the battles: for among the camps in the

midst of the people he hath delivered me out of the hands of

them that persecuted me.

Jdt 16:4

Assur came out of the mountains from the north, he came with ten thousands of his army, the multitude whereof stopped the torrents, and their horsemen have covered the hills.

Jdt 16:5
He bragged that he would burn up my borders, and kill my

young men with the sword, and dash the sucking children against

the ground, and make mine infants as a prey, and my virgins as a

spoil.

Jdt 16:6

But the Almighty Lord hath disappointed them by the hand of a

woman.

Jdt 16:7

For the mighty one did not fall by the young men, neither did

the sons of the Titans smite him, nor high giants set upon him:

but Judith the daughter of Merari weakened him with the beauty

of her countenance.

Jdt 16:8

For she put off the garment of her widowhood for the

exaltation of those that were oppressed in Israel, and anointed

her face with ointment, and bound her hair in a tire, and took a

linen garment to deceive him.

Jdt 16:9

Her sandals ravished his eyes, her beauty took his mind

prisoner, and the fauchion passed through his neck.

Jdt 16:10

The Persians quaked at her boldness, and the Medes were

daunted at her hardiness.

Jdt 16:11

Then my afflicted shouted for joy, and my weak ones cried

aloud; but they were astonished: these lifted up their voices,

but they were overthrown.

Jdt 16:12

The sons of the damsels have pierced them through, and

wounded them as fugatives’ children: they perished by the battle

of the Lord.

Jdt 16:13

I will sing unto the Lord a new song: O Lord, thou art great and glorious, wonderful in strength, and invincible.

Jdt 16:14
Let all creatures serve thee: for thou spakest, and they were

made, thou didst send forth thy spirit, and it created them, and

there is none that can resist thy voice.

Jdt 16:15
For the mountains shall be moved from their foundations with the waters, the rocks shall melt as wax at thy presence: yet thou art merciful to them that fear thee.

Jdt 16:16
For all sacrifice is too little for a sweet savour unto thee, and all the fat is not sufficient for thy burnt offering: but he that feareth the Lord is great at all times.

Jdt 16:17
Woe to the nations that rise up against my kindred! the Lord

Almighty will take vengeance of them in the day of judgment, in

putting fire and worms in their flesh; and they shall feel them,

and weep for ever.

Jdt 16:18

Now as soon as they entered into Jerusalem, they worshipped

the Lord; and as soon as the people were purified, they offered

their burnt offerings, and their free offerings, and their

gifts.

Jdt 16:19

Judith also dedicated all the stuff of Holofernes, which the people had given her, and gave the canopy, which she had taken out of his bedchamber, for a gift unto the Lord.

Jdt 16:20
So the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the

sanctuary for the space of three months and Judith remained with

them.

Jdt 16:21

After this time every one returned to his own inheritance, and Judith went to Bethulia, and remained in her own possession, and was in her time honourable in all the country.

Jdt 16:22
And many desired her, but none knew her all the days of her

life, after that Manasses her husband was dead, and was gathered

to his people.

Jdt 16:23

But she increased more and more in honour, and waxed old in her husband’s house, being an hundred and five years old, and made her maid free; so she died in Bethulia: and they buried her in the cave of her husband Manasses.

Jdt 16:24
And the house of Israel lamented her seven days: and before she died, she did distribute her goods to all them that were nearest of kindred to Manasses her husband, and to them that were the nearest of her kindred.

Jdt 16:25
And there was none that made the children of Israel any more afraid in the days of Judith, nor a long time after her death.

The Book of Bel and the Dragon

The Book of Bel and the Dragon [in Daniel]

[The History of the Destruction of Bel and the Dragon]

The History of the Destruction of Bel and the Dragon,

Cut off from the end of Daniel.

Bel 1:1
And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus of

Persia received his kingdom.

Bel 1:2
And Daniel conversed with the king, and was honoured above

all his friends.

Bel 1:3

Now the Babylons 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.

Bel 1:4
And the king worshipped it and went daily to adore it: but

Daniel worshipped his own God. And the king said unto him, Why

dost not thou worship Bel?

Bel 1:5
Who answered and said, Because I may not worship idols made

with hands, but the living God, who hath created the heaven and

the earth, and hath sovereignty over all flesh.

Bel 1:6
Then said the king unto him, Thinkest thou not that Bel is a

living God? seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh every

day?

Bel 1:7
Then Daniel smiled, and said, O king, be not deceived: for

this is but clay within, and brass without, and did never eat or

drink any thing.

Bel 1:8
So the king was wroth, and called for his priests, and said

unto them, If ye tell me not who this is that devoureth these

expences, ye shall die.

Bel 1:9

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.

Bel 1:10

Now the priests of Bel were threescore and ten, beside

their wives and children. And the king went with Daniel into the

temple of Bel.

Bel 1:11
So Bel’s priests said, Lo, we go out: but thou, O king, set

on the meat, and make ready the wine, and shut the door fast and

seal it with thine own signet;

Bel 1:12
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.

Bel 1:13
And they little regarded it: for under the table they had

made a privy entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and

consumed those things.

Bel 1:14

So when they were gone forth, the king set meats before

Bel. Now Daniel had commanded his servants to bring ashes, and

those they strewed throughout all the temple in the presence of

the king alone: then went they out, and shut the door, and

sealed it with the king’s signet, and so departed.

Bel 1:15

Now in the night came the priests with their wives and

children, as they were wont to do, and did eat and drinck up

all.

Bel 1:16
In the morning betime the king arose, and Daniel with him.

Bel 1:17

And the king said, Daniel, are the seals whole? And he

said, Yea, O king, they be whole.

Bel 1:18
And as soon as he had opened the dour, the king looked upon

the table, and cried with a loud voice, Great art thou, O Bel,

and with thee is no deceit at all.

Bel 1:19
Then laughed Daniel, and held the king that he should not

go in, and said, Behold now the pavement, and mark well whose

footsteps are these.

Bel 1:20
And the king said, I see the footsteps of men, women, and

children. And then the king was angry,

Bel 1:21

And took the priests with their wives and children, who

shewed him the privy doors, where they came in, and consumed

such things as were upon the table.

Bel 1:22

Therefore the king slew them, and delivered Bel into

Daniel’s power, who destroyed him and his temple.

Bel 1:23
And in that same place there was a great dragon, which they

of Babylon worshipped.

Bel 1:24
And the king said unto Daniel, Wilt thou also say that this

is of brass? lo, he liveth, he eateth and drinketh; thou canst

not say that he is no living god: therefore worship him.

Bel 1:25
Then said Daniel unto the king, I will worship the Lord my

God: for he is the living God.

Bel 1:26

But give me leave, O king, and I shall slay this dragon

without sword or staff. The king said, I give thee leave.

Bel 1:27

Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and did seethe

them together, and made lumps thereof: 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.

Bel 1:28
When they of Babylon heard that, they took great

indignation, and conspired against the king, saying, The king is

become a Jew, and he hath destroyed Bel, he hath slain the

dragon, and put the priests to death.

Bel 1:29
So they came to the king, and said, Deliver us Daniel, or

else we will destroy thee and thine house.

Bel 1:30

Now when the king saw that they pressed him sore, being

constrained, he delivered Daniel unto them:

Bel 1:31
Who cast him into the lions’ den: where he was six days.

Bel 1:32

And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given

them every day two carcases, and two sheep: which then were not

given to them, to the intent they might devour Daniel.

Bel 1:33
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.

Bel 1:34
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.

Bel 1:35
And Habbacuc said, Lord, I never saw Babylon; neither do I

know where the den is.

Bel 1:36
Then the angel of the Lord took him by 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.

Bel 1:37

And Habbacuc cried, saying, O Daniel, Daniel, take the

dinner which God hath sent thee.

Bel 1:38

And Daniel said, Thou hast remembered me, O God: neither

hast thou forsaken them that seek thee and love thee.

Bel 1:39
So Daniel arose, and did eat: and the angel of the Lord set

Habbacuc in his own place again immediately.

Bel 1:40
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.

Bel 1:41
Then cried the king with a loud voice, saying, Great art

Lord God of Daniel, and there is none other beside thee.

Bel 1:42
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 Book of Baruch

The Book of Baruch
Bar 1:1
And these are the words of the book, which Baruch the son of Nerias, the son of Maasias, the son of Sedecias, the son of Asadias, the son of Chelcias, wrote in Babylon,

Bar 1:2 In the fifth year, and in the seventh day of the month, what time as the Chaldeans took Jerusalem, and burnt it with fire.

Bar 1:3
And Baruch did read the words of this book in the hearing of

Jechonias the son of Joachim king of Juda, and in the ears of

all the people that came to hear the book,

Bar 1:4

And in the hearing of the nobles, and of the king’s sons, and

in the hearing of the elders, and of all the people, from the

lowest unto the highest, even of all them that dwelt at Babylon

by the river Sud.

Bar 1:5
Whereupon they wept, fasted, and prayed before the Lord.

Bar 1:6
They made also a collection of money according to every man’s power:

Bar 1:7
And they sent it to Jerusalem unto Joachim the high priest,

the son of Chelcias, son of Salom, and to the priests, and to

all the people which were found with him at Jerusalem,

Bar 1:8
At the same time when he received the vessels of the house of

the Lord, that were carried out of the temple, to return them

into the land of Juda, the tenth day of the month Sivan, namely,

silver vessels, which Sedecias the son of Josias king of Jada

had made,

Bar 1:9

After that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away Jechonias, and the princes, and the captives, and the mighty men, and the people of the land, from Jerusalem, and brought them unto Babylon.

Bar 1:10
And they said, Behold, we have sent you money to buy you burnt offerings, and sin offerings, and incense, and prepare ye manna, and offer upon the altar of the Lord our God;

Bar 1:11
And pray for the life of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and for the life of Balthasar his son, that their days may be upon earth as the days of heaven:

Bar 1:12
And the Lord will give us strength, and lighten our eyes, and we shall live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and under the shadow of Balthasar his son, and we shall serve them many days, and find favour in their sight.

Bar 1:13

Pray for us also unto the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the Lord our God; and unto this day the fury of the Lord and his wrath is not turned from us.

Bar 1:14
And ye shall read this book which we have sent unto you, to make confession in the house of the Lord, upon the feasts and solemn days.

Bar 1:15
And ye shall say, To the Lord our God belongeth

righteousness, but unto us the confusion of faces, as it is come

to pass this day, unto them of Juda, and to the inhabitants of

Jerusalem,

Bar 1:16

And to our kings, and to our princes, and to our priests, and to our prophets, and to our fathers:

Bar 1:17
For we have sinned before the Lord,

Bar 1:18

And disobeyed him, and have not hearkened unto the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in the commandments that he gave us openly:

Bar 1:19
Since the day that the Lord brought our forefathers out of the land of Egypt, unto this present day, we have been disobedient unto the Lord our God, and we have been negligent in not hearing his voice.

Bar 1:20
Wherefore the evils cleaved unto us, and the curse, which the Lord appointed by Moses his servant at the time that he brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, to give us a land that floweth with milk and honey, like as it is to see this day.

Bar 1:21
Nevertheless we have not hearkened unto the voice of the Lord our God, according unto all the words of the prophets, whom he sent unto us:

Bar 1:22
But every man followed the imagination of his own wicked

heart, to serve strange gods, and to do evil in the sight of the

Lord our God.

Bar 2:1

Therefore the Lord hath made good his word, which he

pronounced against us, and against our judges that judged

Israel, and against our kings, and against our princes, and

against the men of Israel and Juda,

Bar 2:2

To bring upon us great plagues, such as never happened under the whole heaven, as it came to pass in Jerusalem, according to the things that were written in the law of Moses;

Bar 2:3
That a man should eat the flesh of his own son, and the flesh of his own daughter.

Bar 2:4
Moreover he hath delivered them to be in subjection to all

the kingdoms that are round about us, to be as a reproach and

desolation among all the people round about, where the Lord hath

scattered them.

Bar 2:5

Thus we were cast down, and not exalted, because we have sinned against the Lord our God, and have not been obedient unto his voice.

Bar 2:6
To the Lord our God appertaineth righteousness: but unto us and to our fathers open shame, as appeareth this day.

Bar 2:7
For all these plagues are come upon us, which the Lord hath

pronounced against us

Bar 2:8

Yet have we not prayed before the Lord, that we might turn every one from the imaginations of his wicked heart.

Bar 2:9
Wherefore the Lord watched over us for evil, and the Lord hath brought it upon us: for the Lord is righteous in all his works which he hath commanded us.

Bar 2:10
Yet we have not hearkened unto his voice, to walk in the commandments of the Lord, that he hath set before us.

Bar 2:11
And now, O Lord God of Israel, that hast brought thy people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and high arm, and with signs, and with wonders, and with great power, and hast gotten thyself a name, as appeareth this day:

Bar 2:12
O Lord our God, we have sinned, we have done ungodly, we have dealt unrighteously in all thine ordinances.

Bar 2:13
Let thy wrath turn from us: for we are but a few left among the heathen, where thou hast scattered us.

Bar 2:14
Hear our prayers, O Lord, and our petitions, and deliver us for thine own sake, and give us favour in the sight of them which have led us away:

Bar 2:15
That all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our God, because Israel and his posterity is called by thy name.

Bar 2:16
O Lord, look down from thine holy house, and consider us: bow down thine ear, O Lord, to hear us.

Bar 2:17
Open thine eyes, and behold; for the dead that are in the graves, whose souls are taken from their bodies, will give unto the Lord neither praise nor righteousness:

Bar 2:18
But the soul that is greatly vexed, which goeth stooping and feeble, and the eyes that fail, and the hungry soul, will give thee praise and righteousness, O Lord.

Bar 2:19
Therefore we do not make our humble supplication before thee, O Lord our God, for the righteousness of our fathers, and of our kings.

Bar 2:20
For thou hast sent out thy wrath and indignation upon us, as

thou hast spoken by thy servants the prophets, saying,

Bar 2:21
Thus saith the Lord, Bow down your shoulders to serve the king of Babylon: so shall ye remain in the land that I gave unto your fathers.

Bar 2:22
But if ye will not hear the voice of the Lord, to serve the

king of Babylon,

Bar 2:23

I will cause to cease out of the cites of Judah, and from without Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of joy, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: and the whole land shall be desolate of inhabitants.

Bar 2:24
But we would not hearken unto thy voice, to serve the king of Babylon: therefore hast thou made good the words that thou spakest by thy servants the prophets, namely, that the bones of our kings, and the bones of our fathers, should be taken out of their place.

Bar 2:25
And, lo, they are cast out to the heat of the day, and to the

frost of the night, and they died in great miseries by famine,

by sword, and by pestilence.

Bar 2:26

And the house which is called by thy name hast thou laid

waste, as it is to be seen this day, for the wickedness of the

house of Israel and the house of Juda.

Bar 2:27

O Lord our God, thou hast dealt with us after all thy

goodness, and according to all that great mercy of thine,

Bar 2:28
As thou spakest by thy servant Moses in the day when thou

didst command him to write the law before the children of

Israel, saying,

Bar 2:29

If ye will not hear my voice, surely this very great multitude shall be turned into a small number among the nations, where I will scatter them.

Bar 2:30
For I knew that they would not hear me, because it is a stiffnecked people: but in the land of their captivities they shall remember themselves.

Bar 2:31
And shall know that I am the Lord their God: for I will give them an heart, and ears to hear:

Bar 2:32
And they shall praise me in the land of their captivity, and

think upon my name,

Bar 2:33

And return from their stiff neck, and from their wicked

deeds: for they shall remember the way of their fathers, which

sinned before the Lord.

Bar 2:34

And I will bring them again into the land which I promised with an oath unto their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they shall be lords of it: and I will increase them, and they shall not be diminished.

Bar 2:35
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them to be their God, and they shall be my people: and I will no more drive my people of Israel out of the land that I have given them.

Bar 3:1

O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, the soul in anguish the

troubled spirit, crieth unto thee.

Bar 3:2
Hear, O Lord, and have mercy; ar thou art merciful: and have pity upon us, because we have sinned before thee.

Bar 3:3
For thou endurest for ever, and we perish utterly.

Bar 3:4
O Lord Almighty, thou God of Israel, hear now the prayers of the dead Israelites, and of their children, which have sinned before thee, and not hearkened unto the voice of thee their God: for the which cause these plagues cleave unto us.

Bar 3:5

Remember not the iniquities of our forefathers: but think

upon thy power and thy name now at this time.

Bar 3:6
For thou art the Lord our God, and thee, O Lord, will we praise.

Bar 3:7
And for this cause thou hast put thy fear in our hearts, to the intent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee in our captivity: for we have called to mind all the iniquity of our forefathers, that sinned before thee.

Bar 3:8
Behold, we are yet this day in our captivity, where thou hast scattered us, for a reproach and a curse, and to be subject to payments, according to all the iniquities of our fathers, which departed from the Lord our God.

Bar 3:9
Hear, Israel, the commandments of life: give ear to understand wisdom.

Bar 3:10
How happeneth it Israel, that thou art in thine enemies’

land, that thou art waxen old in a strange country, that thou

art defiled with the dead,

Bar 3:11

That thou art counted with them that go down into the grave?

Bar 3:12
Thou hast forsaken the fountain of wisdom.

Bar 3:13

For if thou hadst walked in the way of God, thou shouldest

have dwelled in peace for ever.

Bar 3:14
Learn where is wisdom, where is strength, where is understanding; that thou mayest know also where is length of days, and life, where is the light of the eyes, and peace.

Bar 3:15

Who hath found out her place? or who hath come into her

treasures ?

Bar 3:16

Where are the princes of the heathen become, and such as ruled the beasts upon the earth;

Bar 3:17
They that had their pastime with the fowls of the air, and they that hoarded up silver and gold, wherein men trust, and made no end of their getting?

Bar 3:18
For they that wrought in silver, and were so careful, and

whose works are unsearchable,

Bar 3:19

They are vanished and gone down to the grave, and others are

come up in their steads.

Bar 3:20

Young men have seen light, and dwelt upon the earth: but the way of knowledge have they not known,

Bar 3:21

Nor understood the paths thereof, nor laid hold of it: their children were far off from that way.

Bar 3:22
It hath not been heard of in Chanaan, neither hath it been seen in Theman.

Bar 3:23
The Agarenes that seek wisdom upon earth, the merchants of Meran and of Theman, the authors of fables, and searchers out of understanding; none of these have known the way of wisdom, or remember her paths.

Bar 3:24
O Israel, how great is the house of God! and how large is the place of his possession!

Bar 3:25
Great, and hath none end; high, and unmeasurable.

Bar 3:26
There were the giants famous from the beginning, that were of so great stature, and so expert in war.

Bar 3:27
Those did not the Lord choose, neither gave he the way of knowledge unto them:

Bar 3:28
But they were destroyed, because they had no wisdom, and perished through their own foolishness.

Bar 3:29
Who hath gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down from the clouds?

Bar 3:30
Who hath gone over the sea, and found her, and will bring her for pure gold?

Bar 3:31
No man knoweth her way, nor thinketh of her path.

Bar 3:32
But he that knoweth all things knoweth her, and hath found her out with his understanding: he that prepared the earth for evermore hath filled it with fourfooted beasts:

Bar 3:33
He that sendeth forth light, and it goeth, calleth it again, and it obeyeth him with fear.

Bar 3:34
The stars shined in their watches, and rejoiced: when he calleth them, they say, Here we be; and so with cheerfulness they shewed light unto him that made them.

Bar 3:35
This is our God, and there shall none other be accounted of

in comparison of him

Bar 3:36

He hath found out all the way of knowledge, and hath given it unto Jacob his servant, and to Israel his beloved.

Bar 3:37
Afterward did he shew himself upon earth, and conversed with men.

Bar 4:1
This is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that endureth for ever: all they that keep it shall come to life; but such as leave it shall die.

Bar 4:2
Turn thee, O Jacob, and take hold of it: walk in the presence of the light thereof, that thou mayest be illuminated.

Bar 4:3
Give not thine honour to another, nor the things that are profitable unto thee to a strange nation.

Bar 4:4
O Israel, happy are we: for things that are pleasing to God are made known unto us.

Bar 4:5
Be of good cheer, my people, the memorial of Israel.

Bar 4:6
Ye were sold to the nations, not for [your] destruction: but because ye moved God to wrath, ye were delivered unto the enemies.

Bar 4:7
For ye provoked him that made you by sacrificing unto devils, and not to God.

Bar 4:8
Ye have forgotten the everlasting God, that brought you up; and ye have grieved Jerusalem, that nursed you.

Bar 4:9
For when she saw the wrath of God coming upon you, she said, Hearken, O ye that dwell about Sion: God hath brought upon me great mourning;

Bar 4:10
For I saw the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting brought upon them.

Bar 4:11
With joy did I nourish them; but sent them away with weeping and mourning.

Bar 4:12
Let no man rejoice over me, a widow, and forsaken of many, who for the sins of my children am left desolate; because they departed from the law of God.

Bar 4:13
They knew not his statutes, nor walked in the ways of his commandments, nor trod in the paths of discipline in his righteousness.

Bar 4:14
Let them that dwell about Sion come, and remember ye the

captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting hath

brought upon them.

Bar 4:15

For he hath brought a nation upon them from far, a shameless nation, and of a strange language, who neither reverenced old man, nor pitied child.

Bar 4:16
These have carried away the dear beloved children of the widow, and left her that was alone desolate without daughters.

Bar 4:17

But what can I help you?

Bar 4:18

For he that brought these plagues upon you will deliver you

from the hands of your enemies.

Bar 4:19

Go your way, O my children, go your way: for I am left

desolate.

Bar 4:20

I have put off the clothing of peace, and put upon me the sackcloth of my prayer: I will cry unto the Everlasting in my days.

Bar 4:21
Be of good cheer, O my children, cry unto the Lord, and he will deliver you from the power and hand of the enemies.

Bar 4:22
For my hope is in the Everlasting, that he will save you; and joy is come unto me from the Holy One, because of the mercy which shall soon come unto you from the Everlasting our Saviour.

Bar 4:23
For I sent you out with mourning and weeping: but God will give you to me again with joy and gladness for ever.

Bar 4:24
Like as now the neighbours of Sion have seen your captivity:

so shall they see shortly your salvation from our God which shall come upon you with great glory, and brightness of the Everlasting.

Bar 4:25
My children, suffer patiently the wrath that is come upon you from God: for thine enemy hath persecuted thee; but shortly thou shalt see his destruction, and shalt tread upon his neck.

Bar 4:26
My delicate ones have gone rough ways, and were taken away as a flock caught of the enemies.

Bar 4:27
Be of good comfort, O my children, and cry unto God: for ye shall be remembered of him that brought these things upon you.

Bar 4:28

For as it was your mind to go astray from God: so, being

returned, seek him ten times more.

Bar 4:29
For he that hath brought these plagues upon you shall bring you everlasting joy with your salvation.

Bar 4:30
Take a good heart, O Jerusalem: for he that gave thee that name will comfort thee.

Bar 4:31
Miserable are they that afflicted thee, and rejoiced at thy

fall.

Bar 4:32

Miserable are the cities which thy children served: miserable

is she that received thy sons.

Bar 4:33

For as she rejoiced at thy ruin, and was glad of thy fall: so shall she be grieved for her own desolation.

Bar 4:34
For I will take away the rejoicing of her great multitude, and her pride shall be turned into mourning.

Bar 4:35
For fire shall come upon her from the Everlasting, long to endure; and she shall be inhabited of devils for a great time.

Bar 4:36
O Jerusalem, look about thee toward the east, and behold the joy that cometh unto thee from God.

Bar 4:37
Lo, thy sons come, whom thou sentest away, they come gathered together from the east to the west by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.

Bar 5:1
Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of mourning and affliction, and put on the comeliness of the glory that cometh from God for ever.

Bar 5:2
Cast about thee a double garment of the righteousness which

cometh from God; and set a diadem on thine head of the glory of

the Everlasting.

Bar 5:3

For God will shew thy brightness unto every country under

heaven.

Bar 5:4

For thy name shall be called of God for ever The peace of righteousness, and The glory of God’s worship.

Bar 5:5
Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and look about toward the east, and behold thy children gathered from the west unto the east by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the remembrance of God.

Bar 5:6
For they departed from thee on foot, and were led away of their enemies: but God bringeth them unto thee exalted with glory, as children of the kingdom.

Bar 5:7
For God hath appointed that every high hill, and banks of

long continuance, should be cast down, and valleys filled up, to

make even the ground, that Israel may go safely in the glory of

God,

Bar 5:8

Moreover even the woods and every sweetsmelling tree shall overshadow Israel by the commandment of God.

Bar 5:9
For God shall lead Israel with joy in the light of his glory with the mercy and righteousness that cometh from him.

THE LOST GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PETER

THE LOST GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PETER

[In the valley of the Upper Nile, on the right bank of the river, is the mysterious town of Akhmim.

It was called Panopolis in ancient times when it was the capital af the district. The remnants of monasteries and the ruins of temples mark the intellectual life of a former day.

In 1816, the French Achseological Mission excavating in the grave of a monk, came upon a parchment codex. Six years later a translation of this was published in the Memoirs of the French Archaological Mission at Cairo. Scholars realized for the first time that a striking discovery, possibly of overwhelming importance, had been made. A portion of The Gospel According to Peter appeared to have been restored to the Christian Community after having been lost for ages. But until now, this

document has never been made available to the general public.

Centuries rolled over that remote tomb at Akhmim, while nations rose and fell, wars blasted civilization, science metamorphosed the world, Shakespeares and Miltons wrote their names and passed on, the American nation was born and grew up

-all the while the ink on the parchment in that Egyptian tomb was scarcely changing – and the beautiful words of this Scripture were preserving for us this version of the most tragic and momentous event in history. That briefly is the romance of The Lost Gospel According to Peter.

Such a gospel was referred to by Serapion, Bishop of Antioch, In 190 A.u.; Origen, historian, in 253 A.D.; Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea in 300 A.D.; Theodoret in 455 in his Religious History said that the Nazarenes used The Gospel According to Peter; and Justin Martyr includes the Memoirs of Peter in his “Apostolic Memoirs.” Thus scholars have always recognized that such a document existed long ago, although its whereabouts and fate were a mystery until the discovery at Akhmim.

While in general the story of the trial and crucifixion that is revealed here follows that of the canonical gospels, in detail it is very different. This account is freer from constraint; and with the events between the burial and resurrection of our Lord, it is much more ample and detailed than anything in the canonical tradition.

There are indeed twenty-nine variations of fact between this Lost Gospel According to Peter and the four canonical gospels. Some of the most important that the reader will note are as follows:

1. Herod was the one who gave the order for the execution.

2. Joseph was a friend of Pilate.

3. In the darkness many went about with lamps and fell down. (That is a startling glimpse of the confusion that seized the people.)

4. Our Lord’s cry of “My power, my power.”

5. The account of how the disciples had to hide because they were searched for as malefactors anxious to burn the temple.

6. The name of the centurion who kept watch at the tomb was Petronius.

It is also interesting to note the prominence assigned to Mary Magdalene; and how this account tends to lay more responsibility on Herod and the people, while relieving Pilate somewhat of his share in the action that was taken. Also, the Resurrection and Ascension are here recorded not as separate events but as occurring on the same day.

There will be a great divergence of opinion as to the place of this document and its relation to the canonical scriptures. Its existence is here proclaimed, and beyond that every reader may form his own estimate of its valne. The Rev. D. H. Stanton, D.D., in the Journal of Theological Studies, commenting on Justin Martyr’s ancient testimony, and this present document says: “The conclusion with which we are confronted is that The Gospel of Peter once held a place of honor, comparable to that assigned to the Four Gospels, perhaps even higher than some of them, ….”]

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BUT of the Jews none washed his hands, neither Herod nor any one of his judges. And when they had refused to wash them, Pilate rose up. And then Herod the king commandeth that the Lord be taken saying to them, What things soever I commanded you to do unto him, do.

2 And there was standing there Joseph the friend of Pilate and of the Lord; and, knowing that they were

about to crucify him, he came to Pilate and asked the body of the Lord for burial. And Pilate sent to Herod

and asked his body. And Herod said, Brother Pilate, even if no one has asked for him, we purposed to bury him, especially as the sabbath draweth on: for it is written in the law, that the sun set not upon one that hath been put to death.

3 And he delivered him to the people on the day before the unleavened bread, their feast.

And they took the Lord and pushed him as they ran, and said, Let us drag away the Son of God,

having obtained power over him. And they clothed him with purple, and set him on the seat of judgment,

saying, Judge righteously, 0 king of Israel. And one of them brought a crown of thorns and put it on the head of the Lord. And others stood and spat in his eyes, and others smote his cheeks: others pricked him with a reed; and some scourged him, saying, With this honor let us honor the Son of God.

4 And they brought two malefactors, and they crucified the Lord between them.

But he held his peace, as though having no pain. And when they had raised the cross,

they wrote the title: This is the king of Israel .

And having set his garments before him they parted them among them, and cast lots for them.

And one of those malefactors reproached them, saying, We for the evils that we have done have suffered thus,

but this man, who hath become the Saviour of men, what wrong hath he done to you?

And they, being angered at him, commanded that his legs should not be broken,

that he might die in torment.

5 And it was noon, and darkness came over all Judaea:

and they were troubled and distressed, lest the sun had set, whilst he was yet alive:

[for] it is written for them, that the sun set not on him that hath been put to death.

And one of them said, Give him to drink gall with vinegar. And they mixed and gave him to drink, and fulfilled all things, and accomplished their sins against their own head.

And many went about with lamps, supposing that it was night, and fell down.

And the Lord cried out, saying,

My power, my power, thou hast forsaken me.

And when he had said it he was taken up.

And in that hour the vail of the temple of Jerusalem was rent in twain.

6 And then they drew out the nails from the hands of the Lord, and laid him upon the earth, and the whole earth quaked, and great fear arose.

Then the sun shone, and it was found the ninth hour:

and the Jews rejoiced, and gave his body to Joseph that he might bury it,

since he had seen what good things he had done.

And he took the Lord, and washed him, and rolled him in a linen cloth, and brought him to his own tomb,

which was called the Garden of Joseph.

7 Then the Jews and the elders and the priests, perceiving what evil they had done to themselves, began to lament and to say, Woe for our sins:

the judgment hath drawn nigh, and the end of Jerusalem.

And I with my companions was grieved; and being wounded in mind we hid ourselves:

for we were being sought for by them as malefactors, and as wishing to set fire to the temple.

And upon all these things we fasted and sat mourning and weeping night and day until the sabbath.

8 But the scribes and Pharisees and elders being gathered together one with another, when they heard that all the people murmured and beat their breasts saying, If by his death these most mighty signs have come to pass,

see how righteous he is, -the elders were afraid and came to Pilate beseeching him and saying,

Give us soldiers, that we may guard his sepulchre for three days, lest his disciples come and steal him away,

and the people suppose that he is risen from the dead and do us evil.

And Pilate gave them Petronius the centurion with soldiers to guard the tomb.

And with them came elders and scribes to the sepulchre, and having rolled a great stone together with the centurion and the soldiers, they all together who were there set it at the door of the sepulchre;

and they affixed seven seals, and they pitched a tent there and guarded it.

And early in the morning as the sabbath was drawing on, there came a multitude from Jerusalem and the region round about, that they might see the sepulchre that was sealed.

9 And in the night in which the Lord’s day was drawing on, as the soldiers kept guard two by two in a watch, there was a great voice in the heaven; and they saw the heavens opened, and two men descend from thence with great light and approach the tomb.

And that stone which was put at the door rolled of itself and made way in part;

and the tomb was opened, and both the young men entered in.

10 When therefore those soldiers saw it, they awakened the centurion and the elders;

for they too were hard by keeping guard.

And as they declared what things they had seen, again they see three men come forth from the tomb, and two of them supporting one, and a cross following them:

and of the two the head reached unto the heaven, but the head of him who was lead by them overpassed the heavens. And they heard a voice from the heavens, saying, Thou hast preached to them that sleep.

And a response was heard from the cross, Yea.

11 They therefore considered one with another whether to go away and shew these things to Pilate.

And while they yet thought thereon, the heavens again are seen to open, and a certain man to descend and enter into the sepulchre.

When the centurion and they that were with him saw these things, they hastened in the night to Pilate, leaving the tomb which they were watching, and declared all things which they had seen, being greatly distressed and saying, Truly he was the Son of God. Pilate answered and said, I am pure from the blood of the Son of God:

but it was ye who determined this. Then they all drew near and besought him and entreated him to command the centurion and the soldiers to say nothing of the things which they had seen:

For it is better, say they, for us to be guilty of the greatest sin before God,

and not to fall into the hands of the people of the Jews and to be stoned.

Pilate therefore commanded the centurion and the soldiers to say nothing.

12 And at dawn upon the Lord’s day Mary Magdalene, a disciple of the Lord, fearing because of the Jews, since they were burning with wrath, had not done at the Lord’s sepulchre the things which women are wont to do for those that die and for those that are beloved by them — she took her friends with her and came to the sepulchre where he was laid. And they feared lest the Jews should see them, and they said,

Although on that day on which he was crucified we could not weep and lament, yet now let us do these things at his sepulchre.

But who shall roll away for us the stone that was laid at the door of the sepulchre,

that we may enter in and sit by him and do the things that are due?

For the stone was great, and we fear lest some one see us.

And if we cannot, yet if we but set at the door the things which we bring as a memorial of him, we will weep and lament, until we come unto our home.

13 And, they went and found the tomb opened, and coming near they looked in there;

and they see there a certain young man sitting in the midst of the tomb, beautiful and clothed in a robe exceeding bright; who said to them, Wherefore are ye come? Whom seek ye? Him that was crucified?

He is risen and gone. But if ye believe not, look in and see the place where he lay, that he is not [here] ;

for he is risen and gone thither, whence he was sent. Then the women feared and fled.

14 Now it was the last day of the unleavened bread, and many were going forth, returning to their homes, as the feast was ended.

But we, the twelve disciples of the Lord, wept and were grieved:

and each one, being grieved for that which was come to pass, departed to his home.

But I Simon Peter and Andrew my brother took our nets and went to the sea;

and there was with us Levi the son of Alphaeus, whom the Lord . . . . . . . …

The Gnostic Gospel of Truth

The Gnostic Gospel of Truth
The Gospel of Truth is one of the ancient texts discovered along with the The Gospel of Thomas in 1945 at Naj ‘Hammd?¬ at the Jabal al-Trif mountain. It describes an architecture of reality similiar to the teachings of the Kabbalah.

The Aeons it speaks of are eternal realms much like the Serifot in the Kabbalah. The Gospel of Truth speaks of a Pleroma. A pleroma is a Divine emanation such as the Aeons, the “Eternities” or “Worlds”, which become the transcendental Pleromas or realms of Light. Creation is a reflection of a perfect Pleromal Realm. Gnostic Theology is based on the duality between the transcendent Absolute Spiritual Reality (which includes the manifest and unmanifest) and the imperfect psychic and physical reality, the “Cosmos”. The cosmos is considered a lower or imperfect reflection or copy of the higher perfect order of the Pleroma which contains the Absolute Realms. This is consistent with the Hindu concept of Brahman, the ineffable ALL.

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The Gospel of Truth
Translated by Robert M. Grant

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The gospel of truth is joy to those who have received from the Father of truth the gift of knowing him by the power of the Logos, who has come from the Pleroma and who is in the thought and the mind of the Father; he it is who is called “the Savior,” since that is the name of the work which he must do for the redemption of those who have not known the Father. For the name of the gospel is the manifestation of hope, since that is the discovery of those who seek him, because the All sought him from whom it had come forth. You see, the All had been inside of him, that illimitable, inconceivable one, who is better than every thought.

This ignorance of the Father brought about terror and fear. And terror became dense like a fog, that no one was able to see. Because of this, error became strong. But it worked on its hylic substance vainly, because it did not know the truth. It was in a fashioned form while it was preparing, in power and in beauty, the equivalent of truth. This then, was not a humiliation for him, that illimitable, inconceivable one. For they were as nothing, this terror and this forgetfulness and this figure of falsehood, whereas this established truth is unchanging, unperturbed and completely beautiful.

For this reason, do not take error too seriously. Thus, since it had no root, it was in a fog as regards the Father, engaged in preparing works and forgetfulnesses and fears in order, by these means, to beguile those of the middle and to make them captive. The forgetfulness of error was not revealed. It did not become light beside the Father. Forgetfulness did not exist with the Father, although it existed because of him. What exists in him is knowledge, which was revealed so that forgetfulness might be destroyed and that they might know the Father, Since forgetfulness existed because they did not know the Father, if they then come to know the Father, from that moment on forgetfulness will cease to exist.

That is the gospel of him whom they seek, which he has revealed to the perfect through the mercies of the Father as the hidden mystery, Jesus the Christ. Through him he enlightened those who were in darkness because of forgetfulness. He enlightened them and gave them a path. And that path is the truth which he taught them. For this reason error was angry with him, so it persecuted him. It was distressed by him, so it made him powerless. He was nailed to a cross. He became a fruit of the knowledge of the Father. He did not, however, destroy them because they ate of it. He rather caused those who ate of it to be joyful because of this discovery.

And as for him, them he found in himself, and him they found in themselves, that illimitable, inconceivable one, that perfect Father who made the all, in whom the All is, and whom the All lacks, since he retained in himself their perfection, which he had not given to the all. The Father was not jealous. What jealousy, indeed, is there between him and his members? For, even if the Aeon had received their perfection, they would not have been able to approach the perfection of the Father, because he retained their perfection in himself, giving it to them as a way to return to him and as a knowledge unique in perfection. He is the one who set the All in order and in whom the All existed and whom the All lacked. As one of whom some have no knowledge, he desires that they know him and that they love him. For what is it that the All lacked, if not the knowledge of the Father?

He became a guide, quiet and in leisure. In the middle of a school he came and spoke the Word, as a teacher. Those who were wise in their own estimation came to put him to the test. But he discredited them as empty-headed people. They hated him because they really were not wise men. After all these came also the little children, those who possess the knowledge of the Father. When they became strong they were taught the aspects of the Father’s face. They came to know and they were known. They were glorified and they gave glory. In their heart, the living book of the Living was manifest, the book which was written in the thought and in the mind of the Father and, from before the foundation of the All, is in that incomprehensible part of him.

This is the book which no one found possible to take, since it was reserved for him who will take it and be slain. No one was able to be manifest from those who believed in salvation as long as that book had not appeared. For this reason, the compassionate, faithful Jesus was patient in his sufferings until he took that book, since he knew that his death meant life for many. Just as in the case of a will which has not yet been opened, for the fortune of the deceased master of the house is hidden, so also in the case of the All which had been hidden as long as the Father of the All was invisible and unique in himself, in whom every space has its source. For this reason Jesus appeared. He took that book as his own. He was nailed to a cross. He affixed the edict of the Father to the cross.

Oh, such great teaching! He abases himself even unto death, though he is clothed in eternal life. Having divested himself of these perishable rags, he clothed himself in incorruptibility, which no one could possibly take from him. Having entered into the empty territory of fears, he passed before those who were stripped by forgetfulness, being both knowledge and perfection, proclaiming the things that are in the heart of the Father, so that he became the wisdom of those who have received instruction. But those who are to be taught, the living who are inscribed in the book of the living, learn for themselves, receiving instructions from the Father, turning to him again.

Since the perfection of the All is in the Father, it is necessary for the All to ascend to him. Therefore, if one has knowledge, he gets what belongs to him and draws it to himself. For he who is ignorant, is deficient, and it is a great deficiency, since he lacks that which will make him perfect. Since the perfection of the All is in the Father, it is necessary for the All to ascend to him and for each one to get the things which are his. He registered them first, having prepared them to be given to those who came from him.

Those whose name he knew first were called last, so that the one who has knowledge is he whose name the Father has pronounced. For he whose name has not been spoken is ignorant. Indeed, how shall one hear if his name has not been uttered? For he who remains ignorant until the end is a creature of forgetfulness and will perish with it. If this is not so, why have these wretches no name, why do they have no sound? Hence, if one has knowledge, he is from above. If he is called, he hears, he replies, and he turns toward him who called him and he ascends to him and he knows what he is called. Since he has knowledge, he does the will of him who called him. He desires to please him and he finds rest. He receives a certain name. He who thus is going to have knowledge knows whence he came and whither he is going. He knows it as a person who, having become intoxicated, has turned from his drunkenness and having come to himself, has restored what is his own.

He has turned many from error. He went before them to their own places, from which they departed when they erred because of the depth of him who surrounds every place, whereas there is nothing which surrounds him. It was a great wonder that they were in the Father without knowing him and that they were able to leave on their own, since they were not able to contain him and know him in whom they were, for indeed his will had not come forth from him. For he revealed it as a knowledge with which all its emanations agree, namely, the knowledge of the living book which he revealed to the Aeons at last as his letters, displaying to them that these are not merely vowels nor consonants, so that one may read them and think of something void of meaning; on the contrary, they are letters which convey the truth. They are pronounced only when they are known. Each letter is a perfect truth like a perfect book, for they are letters written by the hand of the unity, since the Father wrote them for the Aeons, so that they by means of his letters might come to know the Father.

While his wisdom mediates on the logos, and since his teaching expresses it, his knowledge has been revealed. His honor is a crown upon it. Since his joy agrees with it, his glory exalted it. It has revealed his image. It has obtained his rest. His love took bodily form around it. His trust embraced it. Thus the logos of the Father goes forth into the All, being the fruit of his heart and expression of his will. It supports the All. It chooses and also takes the form of the All, purifying it, and causing it to return to the Father and to the Mother, Jesus of the utmost sweetness. The Father opens his bosom, but his bosom is the Holy Spirit. He reveals his hidden self which is his son, so that through the compassion of the Father the Aeons may know him, end their wearying search for the Father and rest themselves in him, knowing that this is rest. After he had filled what was incomplete, he did away with form. The form of it is the world, that which it served. For where there is envy and strife, there is an incompleteness; but where there is unity, there is completeness. Since this incompleteness came about because they did not know the Father, so when they know the Father, incompleteness, from that moment on, will cease to exist. As one’s ignorance disappears when he gains knowledge, and as darkness disappears when light appears, so also incompleteness is eliminated by completeness. Certainly, from that moment on, form is no longer manifest, but will be dissolved in fusion with unity. For now their works lie scattered. In time unity will make the spaces complete. By means of unity each one will understand itself. By means of knowledge it will purify itself of diversity with a view towards unity, devouring matter within itself like fire and darkness by light, death by life.

Certainly, if these things have happened to each one of us, it is fitting for us, surely, to think about the All so that the house may be holy and silent for unity. Like people who have moved from a neighborhood, if they have some dishes around which are not good, they usually break them. Nevertheless the householder does not suffer a loss, but rejoices, for in the place of these defective dishes there are those which are completely perfect. For this is the judgement which has come from above and which has judged every person, a drawn two-edged sword cutting on this side and that. When it appeared, I mean, the Logos, who is in the heart of those who pronounce it – it was not merely a sound but it has become a body – a great disturbance occurred among the dishes, for some were emptied, others filled: some were provided for, others were removed; some were purified, still others were broken. All the spaces were shaken and disturbed for they had no composure nor stability. Error was disturbed not knowing what it should do. It was troubled; it lamented, it was beside itself because it did not know anything. When knowledge, which is its abolishment, approached it with all its emanations, error is empty, since there is nothing in it. Truth appeared; all its emanations recognized it. They actually greeted the Father with a power which is complete and which joins them with the Father. For each one loves truth because truth is the mouth of the Father. His tongue is the Holy Spirit, who joins him to truth attaching him to the mouth of the Father by his tongue at the time he shall receive the Holy Spirit.

This is the manifestation of the Father and his revelation to his Aeons. He revealed his hidden self and explained it. For who is it who exists if it is not the Father himself? All the spaces are his emanations. They knew that they stem from him as children from a perfect man. They knew that they had not yet received form nor had they yet received a name, every one of which the Father produces. If they at that time receive form of his knowledge, though they are truly in him, they do not know him. But the Father is perfect. He knows every space which is within him. If he pleases, he reveals anyone whom he desires by giving him a form and by giving him a name; and he does give him a name and cause him to come into being. Those who do not yet exist are ignorant of him who created them. I do not say, then, that those who do not yet exist are nothing. But they are in him who will desire that they exist when he pleases, like the event which is going to happen. On the one hand, he knows, before anything is revealed, what he will produce. On the other hand, the fruit which has not yet been revealed does not know anything, nor is it anything either. Thus each space which, on its part, is in the Father comes from the existent one, who, on his part, has established it from the nonexistent. […] he who does not exist at all, will never exist.

What, then, is that which he wants him to think? “I am like the shadows and phantoms of the night.” When morning comes, this one knows that the fear which he had experienced was nothing. Thus they were ignorant of the Father; he is the one whom they did not see. Since there had been fear and confusion and a lack of confidence and doublemindness and division, there were many illusions which were conceived by him, the foregoing, as well as empty ignorance – as if they were fast asleep and found themselves a prey to troubled dreams. Either there is a place to which they flee, or they lack strength as they come, having pursued unspecified things. Either they are involved in inflicting blows, or they themselves receive bruises. Either they are falling from high places, or they fly off through the air, though they have no wings at all. Other times, it is as if certain people were trying to kill them, even though there is no one pursuing them; or, they themselves are killing those beside them, for they are stained by their blood. Until the moment when they who are passing through all these things – I mean they who have experienced all these confusions – awake, they see nothing because the dreams were nothing. It is thus that they who cast ignorance from them as sheep do not consider it to be anything, nor regard its properties to be something real, but they renounce them like a dream in the night and they consider the knowledge of the Father to be the dawn. It is thus that each one has acted, as if he were asleep, during the time when he was ignorant and thus he comes to understand, as if he were awakening. And happy is the man who comes to himself and awakens. Indeed, blessed is he who has opened the eyes of the blind.

And the Spirit came to him in haste when it raised him. Having given its hand to the one lying prone on the ground, it placed him firmly on his feet, for he had not yet stood up. He gave them the means of knowing the knowledge of the Father and the revelation of his son. For when they saw it and listened to it, he permitted them to take a taste of and to smell and to grasp the beloved son.

He appeared, informing them of the Father, the illimitable one. He inspired them with that which is in the mind, while doing his will. Many received the light and turned towards him. But material men were alien to him and did not discern his appearance nor recognize him. For he came in the likeness of flesh and nothing blocked his way because it was incorruptible and unrestrainable. Moreover, while saying new things, speaking about what is in the heart of the Father, he proclaimed the faultless word. Light spoke through his mouth, and his voice brought forth life. He gave them thought and understanding and mercy and salvation and the Spirit of strength derived from the limitlessness of the Father and sweetness. He caused punishments and scourgings to cease, for it was they which caused many in need of mercy to astray from him in error and in chains – and he mightily destroyed them and derided them with knowledge. He became a path for those who went astray and knowledge to those who were ignorant, a discovery for those who sought, and a support for those who tremble, a purity for those who were defiled.

He is the shepherd who left behind the ninety-nine sheep which had not strayed and went in search of that one which was lost. He rejoiced when he had found it. For ninety-nine is a number of the left hand, which holds it. The moment he finds the one, however, the whole number is transferred to the right hand. Thus it is with him who lacks the one, that is, the entire right hand which attracts that in which it is deficient, seizes it from the left side and transfers it to the right. In this way, then, the number becomes one hundred. This number signifies the Father.

He labored even on the Sabbath for the sheep which he found fallen into the pit. He saved the life of that sheep, bringing it up from the pit in order that you may understand fully what that Sabbath is, you who possess full understanding. It is a day in which it is not fitting that salvation be idle, so that you may speak of that heavenly day which has no night and of the sun which does not set because it is perfect. Say then in your heart that you are this perfect day and that in you the light which does not fail dwells.

Speak concerning the truth to those who seek it and of knowledge to those who, in their error, have committed sin. Make sure-footed those who stumble and stretch forth your hands to the sick. Nourish the hungry and set at ease those who are troubled. Foster men who love. Raise up and awaken those who sleep. For you are this understanding which encourages. If the strong follow this course, they are even stronger. Turn your attention to yourselves. Do not be concerned with other things, namely, that which you have cast forth from yourselves, that which you have dismissed. Do not return to them to eat them. Do not be moth-eaten. Do not be worm-eaten, for you have already shaken it off. Do not be a place of the devil, for you have already destroyed him. Do not strengthen your last obstacles, because that is reprehensible. For the lawless one is nothing. He harms himself more than the law. For that one does his works because he is a lawless person. But this one, because he is a righteous person, does his works among others. Do the will of the Father, then, for you are from him.

For the Father is sweet and his will is good. He knows the things that are yours, so that you may rest yourselves in them. For by the fruits one knows the things that are yours, that they are the children of the Father, and one knows his aroma, that you originate from the grace of his countenance. For this reason, the Father loved his aroma; and it manifests itself in every place; and when it is mixed with matter, he gives his aroma to the light; and into his rest he causes it to ascend in every form and in every sound. For there are no nostrils which smell the aroma, but it is the Spirit which possesses the sense of smell and it draws it for itself to itself and sinks into the aroma of the Father. He is, indeed, the place for it, and he takes it to the place from which it has come, in the first aroma which is cold. It is something in a psychic form, resembling cold water which is […] since it is in soil which is not hard, of which those who see it think, “It is earth.” Afterwards, it becomes soft again. If a breath is taken, it is usually hot. The cold aromas, then, are from the division. For this reason, God came and destroyed the division and he brought the hot Pleroma of love, so that the cold may not return, but the unity of the Perfect Thought prevail.

This is the word of the Gospel of the finding of the Pleroma for those who wait for the salvation which comes from above. When their hope, for which they are waiting, is waiting – they whose likeness is the light in which there is no shadow, then at that time the Pleroma is about to come. The deficiency of matter, however, is not because of the limitlessness of the Father who comes at the time of the deficiency. And yet no one is able to say that the incorruptible One will come in this manner. But the depth of the Father is increasing, and the thought of error is not with him. It is a matter of falling down and a matter of being readily set upright at the finding of that one who has come to him who will turn back.

For this turning back is called “repentance”. For this reason, incorruption has breathed. It followed him who has sinned in order that he may find rest. For forgiveness is that which remains for the light in the deficiency, the word of the pleroma. For the physician hurries to the place in which there is sickness, because that is the desire which he has. The sick man is in a deficient condition, but he does not hide himself because the physician possesses that which he lacks. In this manner the deficiency is filled by the Pleroma, which has no deficiency, which has given itself out in order to fill the one who is deficient, so that grace may take him, then, from the area which is deficient and has no grace. Because of this a diminishing occurred in the place which there is no grace, the area where the one who is small, who is deficient, is taken hold of.

He revealed himself as a Pleroma, i.e., the finding of the light of truth which has shined towards him, because he is unchangeable. For this reason, they who have been troubled speak about Christ in their midst so that they may receive a return and he may anoint them with the ointment. The ointment is the pity of the Father, who will have mercy on them. But those whom he has anointed are those who are perfect. For the filled vessels are those which are customarily used for anointing. But when an anointing is finished, the vessel is usually empty, and the cause of its deficiency is the consumption of its ointment. For then a breath is drawn only through the power which he has. But the one who is without deficiency – one does not trust anyone beside him nor does one pour anything out. But that which is the deficient is filled again by the perfect Father. He is good. He knows his plantings because he is the one who has planted them in his Paradise. And his Paradise is his place of rest.

This is the perfection in the thought of the Father and these are the words of his reflection. Each one of his words is the work of his will alone, in the revelation of his Logos. Since they were in the depth of his mind, the Logos, who was the first to come forth, caused them to appear, along with an intellect which speaks the unique word by means of a silent grace. It was called “thought,” since they were in it before becoming manifest. It happened, then, that it was the first to come forth – at the moment pleasing to the will of him who desired it; and it is in the will that the Father is at rest and with which he is pleased. Nothing happens without him, nor does anything occur without the will of the Father. But his will is incomprehensible. His will is his mark, but no one can know it, nor is it possible for them to concentrate on it in order to possess it. But that which he wishes takes place at the moment he wishes it – even if the view does not please anyone: it is God`s will. For the Father knows the beginning of them all as well as their end. For when their end arrives, he will question them to their faces. The end, you see, is the recognition of him who is hidden, that is, the Father, from whom the beginning came forth and to whom will return all who have come from him. For they were made manifest for the glory and the joy of his name.

And the name of the Father is the Son. It is he who, in the beginning, gave a name to him who came forth from him – he is the same one – and he begat him for a son. He gave him his name which belonged to him – he, the Father, who possesses everything which exists around him. He possess the name; he has the son. It is possible for them to see him. The name, however, is invisible, for it alone is the mystery of the invisible about to come to ears completely filled with it through the Father`s agency. Moreover, as for the Father, his name is not pronounced, but it is revealed through a son. Thus, then, the name is great.

Who, then, has been able to pronounce a name for him, this great name, except him alone to whom the name belongs and the sons of the name in whom the name of the Father is at rest, and who themselves in turn are at rest in his name, since the Father has no beginning? It is he alone who engendered it for himself as a name in the beginning before he had created the Aeons, that the name of the Father should be over their heads as a lord – that is, the real name, which is secure by his authority and by his perfect power. For the name is not drawn from lexicons nor is his name derived from common name-giving, But it is invisible. He gave a name to himself alone, because he alone saw it and because he alone was capable of giving himself a name. For he who does not exist has no name. For what name would one give him who did not exist? Nevertheless, he who exists also with his name and he alone knows it, and to him alone the Father gave a name. The Son is his name. He did not, therefore, keep it secretly hidden, but the son came into existence. He himself gave a name to him. The name, then, is that of the Father, just as the name of the Father is the Son. For otherwise, where would compassion find a name – outside of the Father? But someone will probably say to his companion, “Who would give a name to someone who existed before himself, as if, indeed, children did not receive their name from one of those who gave them birth?”

Above all, then, it is fitting for us to think this point over: What is the name? It is the real name. It is, indeed, the name which came from the Father, for it is he who owns the name. He did not, you see, get the name on loan, as in the case of others because of the form in which each one of them is going to be created. This, then, is the authoritative name. There is no one else to whom he has given it. But it remained unnamed, unuttered, `till the moment when he, who is perfect, pronounced it himself; and it was he alone who was able to pronounce his name and to see it. When it pleased him, then, that his son should be his pronounced name and when he gave this name to him, he who has come from the depth spoke of his secrets, because he knew that the Father was absolute goodness. For this reason, indeed, he sent this particular one in order that he might speak concerning the place and his place of rest from which he had come forth, and that he might glorify the Pleroma, the greatness of his name and the sweetness of his Father.

Each one will speak concerning the place from which he has come forth, and to the region from which he received his essential being, he will hasten to return once again. And he want from that place – the place where he was – because he tasted of that place, as he was nourished and grew. And his own place of rest is his Pleroma. All the emanations from the Father, therefore, are Pleromas, and all his emanations have their roots in the one who caused them all to grow from himself. He appointed a limit. They, then, became manifest individually in order that they might be in their own thought, for that place to which they extend their thoughts is their root, which lifts them upward through all heights to the Father. They reach his head, which is rest for them, and they remain there near to it so that they say that they have participated in his face by means of embraces. But these of this kind were not manifest, because they have not risen above themselves. Neither have they been deprived of the glory of the Father nor have they thought of him as small, nor bitter, nor angry, but as absolutely good, unperturbed, sweet, knowing all the spaces before they came into existence and having no need of instruction. Such are they who possess from above something of this immeasurable greatness, as they strain towards that unique and perfect one who exists there for them. And they do not go down to Hades. They have neither envy nor moaning, nor is death in them. But they rest in him who rests, without wearying themselves or becoming involved in the search for truth. But, they, indeed, are the truth, and the Father is in them, and they are in the Father, since they are perfect, inseparable from him who is truly good. They lack nothing in any way, but they are given rest and are refreshed by the Spirit. And they listen to their root; they have leisure for themselves, they in whom he will find his root, and he will suffer no loss to his soul.

Such is the place of the blessed; this is their place. As for the rest, then, may they know, in their place, that it does not suit me, after having been in the place of rest to say anything more. But he is the one in whom I shall be in order to devote myself, at all times, to the Father of the All and the true brothers, those upon whom the love of the Father is lavished, and in whose midst nothing of him is lacking. It is they who manifest themselves truly since they are in that true and eternal life and speak of the perfect light filled with the seed of the Father, and which is in his heart and in the Pleroma, while his Spirit rejoices in it and glorifies him in whom it was, because the Father is good. And his children are perfect and worthy of his name, because he is the Father. Children of this kind are those whom he loves.

The Gospel According to Mary

THE GNOSTIC SOCIETY LIBRARY

Gnostic Scriptures and Fragments

The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene

An excellent new print edition of the Gospel of Mary of Magdala. This is the best authorative edition available, and includes a superb commentary by Karen King.

Archive Notes:

Papyrus Berolinensis 8502 was acquired by a German scholar, Dr. Carl Reinhardt, in Cairo in 1896 (the codex is variably referenced in scholarly writings as the “Berlin Gnostic Codex”, the “Akhmim Codex”, PB 8502, and BG 8502). It contains Coptic editions of three very important Gnostic texts: the Apocryphon of John, the Sophia of Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of Mary. Despite the importance of the find, several misfortunes (including two world wars) delayed its publication until 1955. By then the Nag Hammadi collection had also been recovered, and two of the texts in the PB 8502 codex — the Apocryphon of John, and the Sophia of Jesus Christ — were also found included there. The PB 8502 versions of these two texts were used to augment translations of the Apocryphon of John and the Sophia of Jesus Christ as they now appear in the Nag Hammadi Library.

Importantly, the codex preserves the most complete surviving copy of the Gospel of Mary (as the text is named in the manuscript, though it is clear this named Mary is the person we call Mary of Magdala). Two other small fragments of the Gospel of Mary from separate Greek editions were later also unearthed in archaelogical excavations at Oxyrhynchus in Northern Egypt. (Fragments of the Gospel of Thomas were also found at this ancient library site, see the Gospel of Thomas page for more information about Oxyrhyncus.) Unfortunately, the extant manuscript of the Gospel of Mary is missing pages 1 to 6 and pages 11 to 14 — pages that included sections of the text up to chapter 4, and portions of chapter 5 to 8.

The complete extant text of the Gospel of Mary is presented below. For those interested in a print edition of the text, we highly recommend Karen King’s new translation and commentary (listed to the side). An introductory lecture on the The Gospel of Mary Magdalen is also available in our The Gnosis Archive Web Lectures collection.

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The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene

Chapter 4

(Pages 1 to 6 of the manuscript, containing chapters 1 – 3, are lost. The extant text starts on page 7…)

. . . Will matter then be destroyed or not?

22) The Savior said, All nature, all formations, all creatures exist in and with one another, and they will be resolved again into their own roots.

23) For the nature of matter is resolved into the roots of its own nature alone.

24) He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

25) Peter said to him, Since you have explained everything to us, tell us this also: What is the sin of the world?

26) The Savior said There is no sin, but it is you who make sin when you do the things that are like the nature of adultery, which is called sin.

27) That is why the Good came into your midst, to the essence of every nature in order to restore it to its root.

28) Then He continued and said, That is why you become sick and die, for you are deprived of the one who can heal you.

29) He who has a mind to understand, let him understand.

30) Matter gave birth to a passion that has no equal, which proceeded from something contrary to nature. Then there arises a disturbance in its whole body.

31) That is why I said to you, Be of good courage, and if you are discouraged be encouraged in the presence of the different forms of nature.

32) He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

33) When the Blessed One had said this, He greeted them all,saying, Peace be with you. Receive my peace unto yourselves.

34) Beware that no one lead you astray saying Lo here or lo there! For the Son of Man is within you.

35) Follow after Him!

36) Those who seek Him will find Him.

37) Go then and preach the gospel of the Kingdom.

38) Do not lay down any rules beyond what I appointed you, and do not give a law like the lawgiver lest you be constrained by it.

39) When He said this He departed.

Chapter 5

1) But they were grieved. They wept greatly, saying, How shall we go to the Gentiles and preach the gospel of the Kingdom of the Son of Man? If they did not spare Him, how will they spare us?

2) Then Mary stood up, greeted them all, and said to her brethren, Do not weep and do not grieve nor be irresolute, for His grace will be entirely with you and will protect you.

3) But rather, let us praise His greatness, for He has prepared us and made us into Men.

4) When Mary said this, she turned their hearts to the Good, and they began to discuss the words of the Savior.

5) Peter said to Mary, Sister we know that the Savior loved you more than the rest of woman.

6) Tell us the words of the Savior which you remember which you know, but we do not, nor have we heard them.

7) Mary answered and said, What is hidden from you I will proclaim to you.

8) And she began to speak to them these words: I, she said, I saw the Lord in a vision and I said to Him, Lord I saw you today in a vision. He answered and said to me,

9) Blessed are you that you did not waver at the sight of Me. For where the mind is there is the treasure.

10) I said to Him, Lord, how does he who sees the vision see it, through the soul or through the spirit?

11) The Savior answered and said, He does not see through the soul nor through the spirit, but the mind that is between the two that is what sees the vision and it is […]

(pages 11 – 14 are missing from the manuscript)

Chapter 8:

. . . it.

10) And desire said, I did not see you descending, but now I see you ascending. Why do you lie since you belong to me?

11) The soul answered and said, I saw you. You did not see me nor recognize me. I served you as a garment and you did not know me.

12) When it said this, it (the soul) went away rejoicing greatly.

13) Again it came to the third power, which is called ignorance.

14) The power questioned the soul, saying, Where are you going? In wickedness are you bound. But you are bound; do not judge!

15) And the soul said, Why do you judge me, although I have not judged?

16) I was bound, though I have not bound.

17) I was not recognized. But I have recognized that the All is being dissolved, both the earthly things and the heavenly.

18) When the soul had overcome the third power, it went upwards and saw the fourth power, which took seven forms.

19) The first form is darkness, the second desire, the third ignorance, the fourth is the excitement of death, the fifth is the kingdom of the flesh, the sixth is the foolish wisdom of flesh, the seventh is the wrathful wisdom. These are the seven powers of wrath.

20) They asked the soul, Whence do you come slayer of men, or where are you going, conqueror of space?

21) The soul answered and said, What binds me has been slain, and what turns me about has been overcome,

22) and my desire has been ended, and ignorance has died.

23) In a aeon I was released from a world, and in a Type from a type, and from the fetter of oblivion which is transient.

24) From this time on will I attain to the rest of the time, of the season, of the aeon, in silence.

Chapter 9

1) When Mary had said this, she fell silent, since it was to this point that the Savior had spoken with her.

2) But Andrew answered and said to the brethren, Say what you wish to say about what she has said. I at least do not believe that the Savior said this. For certainly these teachings are strange ideas.

3) Peter answered and spoke concerning these same things.

4) He questioned them about the Savior: Did He really speak privately with a woman and not openly to us? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did He prefer her to us?

5) Then Mary wept and said to Peter, My brother Peter, what do you think? Do you think that I have thought this up myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the Savior?

6) Levi answered and said to Peter, Peter you have always been hot tempered.

7) Now I see you contending against the woman like the adversaries.

8) But if the Savior made her worthy, who are you indeed to reject her? Surely the Savior knows her very well.

9) That is why He loved her more than us. Rather let us be ashamed and put on the perfect Man, and separate as He commanded us and preach the gospel, not laying down any other rule or other law beyond what the Savior said.

10) And when they heard this they began to go forth to proclaim and to preach.

The Gospel According to Mary

THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS

THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS, OR ACTS OF PILATE
From “The Apocryphal New Testament”
M.R. James-Translation and Notes
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924

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Introduction
We have as yet no true critical edition of this book: one is in preparation, by E. von Dobschutz, to be included in the Berlin corpus of Greek Ante-Nicene Christian writers. A short statement of the authorities available at this moment is therefore necessary.

Tischendorf in his Evangelia Apocrypha divides the whole writing into two parts: (1) the story of the Passion; (2) the Descent into hell; and prints the following forms of each: six in all:

1. Part I, Recession A in Greek from eight manuscripts, and a Latin translation of the Coptic version in the notes.

2. Part I, Recession B in Greek from three late manuscripts.

3. Part II (Descent into Hell) in Greek from three manuscripts.

4. Part I in Latin, using twelve manuscripts, and some old editions.

5. Part II in Latin (A) from four manuscripts.

6. Part II in Latin (B) from three manuscripts.

Tischendorf’s must be described as an eclectic text not representing probably, any one single line of transmission: but it presents the book in a readable, and doubtless, on the whole, correct form.

There are, besides the Latin, three ancient versions of Part I of considerable importance, viz.:

Coptic, preserved in an early papyrus at Turin, and in some fragments at Paris. Last edited by Revillout in Patrologia orientalis, ix. 2.

Syriac, edited by Rahmaui in Studia Syriaca, II.

Armenian, edited by F. C. Conybeara in Studia Biblica, IV (Oxford, 1896): he gives a Greek rendering of one manuscript and a Latin one of another.

All of these conform to Tischelldorf’s Recession A of Part I: and this must be regarded as the most original form of the Acta which we have. Recession B is a late and diffuse working-over of the same matter: it will not be translated here in full.

The first part of the book, containing the story of the Passion and Resurrection, is not earlier than the fourth century. Its object in the main is to furnish irrefragable testimony to the resurrection. Attempts have been made to show that it is of early date-that it is, for instance, the writing which Justin Martyr meant when in his Apology he referred his heathen readers to the ‘Acts’ of Christ’s trial preserved among the archives of Rome. The truth of that matter is that he simply assumed that such records must exist. False ‘acts’ of the trial were written in the Pagan interest under Maximin, and introduced into schools early in the fourth century. It is imagined by some that our book was a counterblast to these.

The account of the Descent into Hell (Part II) is an addition to the Acta. It does not appear in any Oriental version, and the Greek copies are rare. It is in Latin that it has chiefly flourished, and has been the parent of versions in every European language.

The central idea, the delivery of the righteous fathers from Hades is exceedingly ancient. Second-century writers are full of it. The embellishments, the dialogues of Satan with Hades, which are so dramatic, come in later, perhaps with the development of pulpit oratory among Christians. We find them in fourth-century homilies attributed to Eusebius of Emesa.

This second part used to be called Gnostic, but there is nothing unorthodox about it save the choice of the names of the two men who are supposed to tell the story, viz. Leucius and Karinus. Leucius Charinus is the name given by church writers to the supposed author of the Apocryphal Acts of John, Paul, Peter, Andrew, and Thomas. In reality Leucius was the soi-disant author of the Acts of John only. His name was transferred to the other Acts in process of time, and also (sometimes disguised as Seleucus) to Gospels of the Infancy and narratives of the Assumption of the Virgin, With all these the original Leucius had nothing to do. When his name came to be attached to the Descent into Hell we do not yet know: nor do we know when the Descent was first appended to the Acts of Pilate. Not, I should conjecture, before the fifth century.

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MEMORIALS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST DONE IN THE TIME OF PONTIUS PILATE

Prologue

(Absent from some manuscripts and versions).

I Ananias (Aeneas Copt., Emaus Lat.), the Protector, of praetorian rank, learned in the law, did from the divine scriptures recognize our Lord Jesus Christ and came near to him by faith and was accounted worthy of holy baptism: and I sought out the memorials that were made at that season in the time of our master Jesus Christ, which the Jews deposited with Pontius Pilate, and found the memorials in Hebrew (letters), and by the good pleasure of God I translated them into Greek (letters) for the informing of all them that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: in the reign of our Lord Flavius Theodosius, in the seventeenth year, and of Flavius Valentinianus the sixth, in the ninth indiction [corrupt: Lat. has the eighteenth year of Theodosius, when Valentinian was proclaimed Augustus, i. e. A. D. 425].

All ye therefore that read this and translate (or copy) it into other books, remember me and pray for me that God will be gracious unto me and be merciful unto my sins which I have sinned against him.

Peace be to them that read and that hear these things and to their servants. Amen.

In the fifteenth (al. nineteenth) year of the governance of Tiberius Caesar, emperor of the Romans, and of Herod, king of Galilee, in the nineteenth year of his rule, on the eighth of the Calends of April, which is the 25th of March, in the consulate of Rufus and Rubellio, in the fourth year of the two hundred and second Olympiad, Joseph who is Caiaphas being high priest of the Jews:

These be the things which after the cross and passion of the Lord Nicodemus recorded and delivered unto the high priest and the rest of the Jews: and the same Nicodemus set them forth in Hebrew (letters).

I

1 For the chief priests and scribes assembled in council, even Annas and Caiaphas and Somne (Senes) and Dothaim (Dothael, Dathaes, Datam) and Gamaliel, Judas, Levi and Nepthalim, Alexander and Jairus and the rest of the Jews, and came unto Pilate accusing Jesus for many deeds, saying: We know this man, that he is the son of Joseph the carpenter, begotten of Mary, and he saith that he is the Son of God and a king; more-over he doth pollute the sabbaths and he would destroy the law of our fathers.

Pilate saith: And what things are they that he doeth, and would destroy the law?

The Jews say: We have a law that we should not heal any man on the sabbath: but this man of his evil deeds hath healed the lame and the bent, the withered and the blind and the paralytic, the dumb and them that were possessed, on the sabbath day!

Pilate saith unto them: By what evil deeds?

They say unto him: He is a sorcerer, and by Beelzebub the prince of the devils he casteth out devils, and they are all subject unto him.

Pilate saith unto them: This is not to cast out devils by an unclean spirit, but by the god Asclepius.

2 The Jews say unto Pilate: We beseech thy majesty that he appear before thy judgement-seat and be heard. And Pilate called them unto him and said: Tell me, how can I that am a governor examine a king? They say unto him: We say not that he is a king, but he saith it of himself.

And Pilate called the messenger (cursor) and said unto him: Let Jesus be brought hither, but with gentleness. And the messenger went forth, and when he perceived Jesus he worshipped him and took the kerchief that was on his hand and spread it upon the earth and saith unto him: Lord, walk hereon and enter in, for the governor calleth thee. And when the Jews saw what the messenger had done, they cried out against Pilate saying: Wherefore didst thou not summon him by an herald to enter in, but by a messenger? for the messenger when he saw him worshipped him and spread out his kerchief upon the ground and hath made him walk upon it like a king!

3 Then Pilate called for the messenger and said unto him: Wherefore hast thou done this, and hast spread thy kerchief upon the ground and made Jesus to walk upon it? The messenger saith unto him: Lord governor, when thou sentest me to Jerusalem unto Alexander, I saw Jesus sitting upon an ass, and the children of the Hebrews held branches in their hands and cried out, and others spread their garments beneath him, saying: Save now, thou that art in the highest: blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

4 The Jews cried out and said unto the messenger: The children of the Hebrews cried out in Hebrew: how then hast thou it in the Greek? The messenger saith to them: I did ask one of the Jews and said: What is it that they cry out in Hebrew? and he interpreted it unto me.

Pilate saith unto them: And how cried they in Hebrew? The Jews say unto him: Hosanna membrome barouchamma adonai. Pilate saith unto them: And the Hosanna and the rest, how is it interpreted? The Jews say unto him: Save now, thou that art in the highest: blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Pilate saith unto them: If you yourselves bear witness of the words which were said of the children, wherein hath the messenger sinned? and they held their peace.

The governor saith unto the messenger: Go forth and bring him in after what manner thou wilt. And the messenger went forth and did after the former manner and said unto Jesus: Lord, enter in: the governor calleth thee.

5 Now when Jesus entered in, and the ensigns were holding the standards, the images (busts) of the standards bowed and did reverence to Jesus. And when the Jews saw the carriage of the standards, how they bowed themselves and did reverence unto Jesus, they cried out above measure against the ensigns. But Pilate said unto the Jews: Marvel ye not that the images bowed themselves and did reverence unto Jesus. The Jews say unto Pilate: We saw how the ensigns made them to bow and did reverence to him. And the governor called for the ensigns and saith unto them: Wherefore did ye so? They say unto Pilate: We are Greeks and servers of temples, and how could we do him reverence? for indeed, whilst we held the images they bowed of themselves and did reverence unto him.

6 Then saith Pilate unto the rulers of the synagogue and the elders of the people: Choose you out able and strong men and let them hold the standards, and let us see if they bow of themselves. And the elders of the Jews took twelve men strong and able and made them to hold the standards by sixes, and they were set before the judgement-seat of the governor; and Pilate said to the messenger: Take him out of the judgement hall (praetorium) and bring him in again after what manner thou wilt. And Jesus went out of the judgement hall, he and the messenger. And Pilate called unto him them that before held the image and said unto them: I have sworn by the safety of Caesar that if the standards bow not when Jesus entereth in, I will cut off your heads.

And the governor commanded Jesus to enter in the second time. And the messenger did after the former manner and besought Jesus much that he would walk upon his kerchief; and he walked upon it and entered in. And when he had entered, the standards bowed themselves again and did reverence unto Jesus.

II

1 Now when Pilate saw it he was afraid, and sought to rise up from the judgement-seat. And while he yet thought to rise up, his wife sent unto him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with this just man, for I have suffered many things because of him by night. And Pilate called unto him all the Jews, and said unto them: Ye know that my wife feareth God and favoureth rather the customs of the Jews, with you? They say unto him: Yea, we know it. Pilate saith unto them: Lo, my wife hath sent unto me, saying: Have thou nothing to do with this just man: for I have suffered many things because of him by night. But the Jews answered and said unto Pilate: Said we not unto thee that he is a sorcerer? behold, he hath sent a vision of a dream unto thy wife.

2 And Pilate called Jesus unto him and said to him: What is it that these witness against thee? speakest thou nothing? But Jesus said: If they had not had power they would have spoken nothing; for every man hath power over his own mouth, to speak good or evil: they shall see to it.

3 The elders of the Jews answered and said unto Jesus: What shall we see? Firstly, that thou wast born of fornication; secondly, that thy birth in Bethlehem was the cause of the slaying of children; thirdly, that thy father Joseph and thy mother Mary fled into Egypt because they had no confidence before the people.

4 Then said certain of them that stood by, devout men of the Jews: We say not that he came of fornication; but we know that Joseph was betrothed unto Mary, and he was not born of fornication. Pilate saith unto those Jews which said that he came of fornication: This your saying is not true for there were espousals, as these also say which are of your nation. Annas and Caiaphas say unto Pilate: The whole multitude of us cry out that he was born of fornication, and we are not believed: but these are proselytes and disciples of his. And Pilate called Annas and Caiaphas unto him and said to them: What be proselytes? They say unto him: They were born children of Greeks, and now are they become Jews. Then said they which said l that he was not born of fornication, even Lazarus, Asterius, Antonius, Jacob, Amnes, Zenas, Samuel, Isaac, Phinees, Crispus, Agrippa and Judas: We were not born proselytes (are not Greeks, Copt.), but we are children of Jews and we speak the truth; for verily we were present at the espousals of Joseph and Mary.

5 And Pilate called unto him those twelve men which said that he was not born of fornication, and saith unto them: I adjure you by the safety of Caesar, are these things true which ye have said, that he was not born of fornication? They say unto Pilate: We have a law that we swear not, because it is sin: But let them swear by the safety of Caesar that it is not as we have said, and we will be guilty of death. Pilate saith to Annas and Caiaphas: Answer ye nothing to these things? Annas and Caiaphas say unto Pilate: These twelve men are believed which say that he was not born of fornication, but the whole multitude of us cry out that he was born of fornication, and is a sorcerer, and saith that he is the Son of God and a king, and we are not believed.

6 And Pilate commanded the whole multitude to go out, saving the twelve men which said that he was not born of fornication and he commanded Jesus to be set apart: and Pilate saith unto them: For what cause do they desire to put him to death? They say unto Pilate: They have jealousy, because he healeth on the sabbath day. Pilate saith: For a good work do they desire to put him to death? They say unto him: Yea.

III

1 And Pilate was filled with indignation and went forth without the judgement hall and saith unto them: I call the Sun to witness that I find no fault in this man. The Jews answered and said to the governor: If this man were not a malefactor we would not have delivered him unto thee. And Pilate said: Take ye him and judge him according to your law. The Jews said unto Pilate: It is not lawful for us to put any man to death. Pilate said: Hath God forbidden you to slay, and allowed me?

2 And Pilate went in again into the judgement hall and called Jesus apart and said unto him: Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered and said to Pilate: Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered Jesus: Am I also a Jew? thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world; for if my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have striven that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate said unto him: Art thou a king, then? Jesus answered him: Thou sayest that I am a king; for this cause was I born and am come, that every one that is of the truth should hear my voice. Pilate saith unto him: What is truth? Jesus saith unto him: Truth is of heaven. Pilate saith: Is there not truth upon earth? Jesus saith unto Pilate: Thou seest how that they which speak the truth are judged of them that have authority upon earth.

IV

1 And Pilate left Jesus in the judgement hall and went forth to the Jews and said unto them: I find no fault in him. The Jews say unto him: This man said: I am able to destroy this temple and in three days to build it up. Pilate saith: What temple? The Jews say: That which Solomon built in forty and six years but which this man saith he will destroy and build it in three days. Pilate saith unto them: I am guiltless of the blood of this just man: see ye to it. The Jews say: His blood be upon us and on our children.

2 And Pilate called the elders and the priests and Levites unto him and said to them secretly: Do not so: for there is nothing worthy of death whereof ye have accused him, for your accusation is concerning healing and profaning of the sabbath. The elders and the priests and Levites say: If a man blaspheme against Caesar, is he worthy of death or no? Pilate saith: He is worthy of death. The Jews say unto Pilate: If a man be worthy of death if he blaspheme against Caesar, this man hath blasphemed against God.

3 Then the governor commanded all the Jews to go out from the judgement hall, and he called Jesus to him and saith unto him: What shall I do with thee? Jesus saith unto Pilate: Do as it hath been given thee. Pilate saith: How hath it been given? Jesus saith: Moses and the prophets did foretell concerning my death and rising again. Now the Jews inquired by stealth and heard, and they say unto Pilate: What needest thou to hear further of this blasphemy? Pilate saith unto the Jews: If this word be of blasphemy, take ye him for his blasphemy, and bring him into your synagogue and judge him according to your law. The Jews say unto Pilate: It is contained in our law, that if a man sin against a man, he is worthy to receive forty stripes save one: but he that blasphemeth against God, that he should be stoned with stoning.

4 Pilate saith unto them: Take ye him and avenge yourselves of him in what manner ye will. The Jews say unto Pilate: We will that he be crucified. Pilate saith: He deserveth not to be crucified.

5 Now as the governor looked round about upon the multitude of the Jews which stood by, he beheld many of the Jews weeping, and said: Not all the multitude desire that he should be put to death. The elder of the Jews said: To this end have the whole multitude of us come Hither, that he should be put to death. Pilate saith to the Jews: Wherefore should he die? The Jews said: Because he called himself the Son of God, and a king.

V

1 But a certain man, Nicodemus, a Jew, came and stood before the governor and said: I beseech thee, good (pious) lord, bid me speak a few words. Pilate saith: Say on. Nicodemus saith: I said unto the elders and the priests and Levites and unto all the multitude of the Jews in the synagogue: Wherefore contend ye with this man? This man doeth many and wonderful signs, which no man hath done, neither will do: let him alone and contrive not any evil against him: if the signs which he doeth are of God, they will stand, but if they be of men, they will come to nought. For verily Moses, when he was sent of God into Egypt did many signs, which God commanded him to do before Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and there were there certain men servants of Pharaoh, Jannes and Jambres, and they also did signs not a few, of them which Moses did, and the Egyptians held them as gods, even Jannes and Jambres: and whereas the signs which they did were not of God, they perished and those also that believed on them. And now let this man go, for he is not worthy of death.

2 The Jews say unto Nicodemus: Thou didst become his disciple and thou speakest on his behalf. Nicodemus saith unto them: Is the governor also become his disciple, that he speaketh on his behalf? did not Caesar appoint him unto this dignity? And the Jews were raging and gnashing their teeth against Nicodemus. Pilate saith unto them: Wherefore gnash ye your teeth against him, wherens ye have heard the truth? The Jews say unto Nicodemus: Mayest thou receive his truth and his portion. Nicodemus saith: Amen, Amen: may I receive it as ye have said.

VI

1 Now one of the Jews came forward and besought the governor that he might speak a word. The governor saith: If thou wilt say aught, speak on. And the Jew said: Thirty and eight years lay I on a bed in suffering of pains, and at the coming of Jesus many that were possessed and laid with divers diseases were healed by him, and certain (faithful) young men took pity on me and carried me with my bed and brought me unto him; and when Jesus saw me he had compassion, and spake a word unto me: Take up thy bed and walk. And I took up my bed and walked. The Jews say unto Pilate: Ask of him what day it was whereon he was healed? He that was healed saith: On the sabbath. The Jews say: Did we not inform thee so, that upon the sabbath he healeth and casteth out devils?

2 And another Jew came forward and said: I was born blind: I heard words but I saw no man’s face: and as Jesus passed by I cried with a loud voice: Have mercy on me, O son of David. And he took pity on me and put his hands upon mine eyes and I received sight immediately. And another Jew came forward and said: I was bowed and he made me straight with a word. And another said: I was a leper, and he healed me with a word.

VII

And a certain woman named Bernice (Beronice Copt., Veronica Lat.) crying out from afar off said: I had an issue of blood and touched the hem of his garment, and the flowing of my blood was stayed which I had twelve years. The Jews say: We have a law that a woman shall not come to give testimony.

VIII

And certain others, even a multitude both of men and women cried out, saying: This man is a prophet and the devils are subject unto him. Pilate saith to them which said: The devils are subject unto him: Wherefore were not your teachers also subject unto him? They say unto Pilate: We know not. Others also said: He raised up Lazarus which was dead out of his tomb after four days. And the governor was afraid and said unto all the multitude of the Jews: Wherefore will ye shed innocent blood?

IX

1 And he called unto him Nicodemus and those twelve men which said that he was not born of fornication, and said unto them: What shall I do, for there riseth sedition among the people? They say unto him: We know not, let them see to it. Again Pilate called for all the multitude of the Jews and saith: Ye know that ye have a custom that at the feast of unleavened bread I should release unto you a prisoner. Now I have a prisoner under condemnation in the prison, a murderer, Barabbas by name, and this Jesus also which standeth before you, in whom I find no fault: Whom will ye that I release unto you? But they cried out: Barabbas. Pilate saith: What shall I do then with Jesus who is called Christ? The Jews say: Let him be crucified. But certain of the Jews answered: Thou art not a friend of Caesar’s if thou let this man go; for he called himself the Son of God and a king: thou wilt therefore have him for king, and not Caesar.

2 And Pilate was wroth and said unto the Jews: Your nation is always seditious and ye rebel against your benefactors. The Jews say: Against what benefactors? Pilate saith: According as I have heard, your God brought you out of Egypt out of hard bondage, and led you safe through the sea as by dry land, and in the wilderness he nourished you with manna and gave you quails, and gave you water to drink out of a rock, and gave unto you a law. And in all these things ye provoked your God to anger, and sought out a molten calf, and angered your God and he sought to slay you: and Moses made supplication for you and ye were not put to death. And now ye do accuse me that I hate the king (emperor).

3 And he rose up from the judgement-seat and sought to go forth. And the Jews cried out, saying: We know our king, even Caesar and not Jesus. For indeed the wise men brought gifts from the east unto him as unto a king, and when Herod heard from the wise men that a king was born, he sought to slay him, and when his father Joseph knew that, he took him and his mother and they fled into Egypt. And when Herod heard it he destroyed the children of the Hebrews that were born in Bethlehem.

4 And when Pilate heard these words he was afraid. And Pilate silenced the multitude, because they cried still, and said unto them: So, then, this is he whom Herod sought? The Jews say: Yea, this is he. And Pilate took water and washed his hands before the sun, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man: see ye to it. Again the Jews cried out: His blood be upon us and upon our children.

5 Then Pilate commanded the veil to be drawn before the judgement-seat whereon he sat, and saith unto Jesus: Thy nation hath convicted thee (accused thee) as being a king: therefore have I decreed that thou shouldest first be scourged according to the law of the pious emperors, and thereafter hanged upon the cross in the garden wherein thou wast taken: and let Dysmas and Gestas the two malefactors be crucified with thee.

X

1 And Jesus went forth of the judgement hall and the two malefactors with him. And when they were come to the place they stripped him of his garments and girt him with a linen cloth and put a crown of thorns about his head: likewise also they hanged up the two malefactors. But Jesus said: Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. And the soldiers divided his garments among them.

And the people stood looking upon him, and the chief priests and the rulers with them derided him, saying: He saved others let him save himself: if he be the son of God [let him come down from the cross]. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming and offering him vinegar with gall; and they said: If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself.

And Pilate after the sentence commanded his accusation to be written for a title in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew according to the saying of the Jews: that he was the King of the Jews.

2 And one of the malefactors that were hanged [by name Gestas] spake unto him, saying: If thou be the Christ, save thyself, and us. But Dysmas answering rebuked him, saying: Dost thou not at all fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? and we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus: Remember me, Lord, in thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, that today thou shalt be (art) with me in paradise.

XI

1 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the land until the ninth hour, for the sun was darkened: and the veil of the temple was rent asunder in the midst. And Jesus called with a loud voice and said: Father, baddach ephkid rouel, which is interpreted: Into thy hands I commend my spirit. And having thus said he gave up the ghost. And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying: This man was righteous. And all the multitudes that had come to the sight, when they beheld what was done smote their breasts and returned.

2 But the centurion reported unto the governor the things that had come to pass: and when the governor and his wife heard, they were sore vexed, and neither ate nor drank that day. And Pilate sent for the Jews and said unto them: Did ye see that which came to pass? But they said: There was an eclipse of the sun after the accustomed sort.

3 And his acquaintance had stood afar off, and the women which came with him from Galilee, beholding these things. But a certain man named Joseph, being a counsellor, of the city of Arimathaea, who also himself looked for the kingdom of God this man went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in a hewn sepulchre wherein was never man yet laid.

XII

1 Now when the Jews heard that Joseph had begged the body of Jesus, they sought for him and for the twelve men which said that Jesus was not born of fornication, and for Nicodemus and many others which had come forth before Pilate and declared his good works. But all they hid themselves, and Nicodemus only was seen of them, for he was a ruler of the Jews. And Nicodemus said unto them: How came ye into the synagogue? The Jews say unto him: How didst thou come into the synagogue? for thou art confederate with him, and his portion shall be with thee in the life to come. Nicodemus saith: Amen, Amen. Likewise Joseph also came forth and said unto them: Why is it that ye are vexed against me, for that I begged the body of Jesus? behold I have laid it in my new tomb, having wrapped it in clean linen, and I rolled a stone over the door of the cave. And ye have not dealt well with the just one, for ye repented not when ye had crucified him, but ye also pierced him with a spear.

But the Jews took hold on Joseph and commanded him to be put in safeguard until the first day of the week: and they said unto him: Know thou that the time alloweth us not to do anything against thee, because the sabbath dawneth: but knew that thou shalt not obtain burial, but we will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the heaven. Joseph saith unto them: This is the word of Goliath the boastful which reproached the living God and the holy David. For God said by the prophet: Vengeance is mine, and I will recompense, saith the Lord. And now, lo, one that was uncircumcised, but circumcised in heart, took water and washed his hands before the sun, saying: I am Innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. And ye answered Pilate and said: His blood be upon us and upon our children. And now I fear lest the wrath of the Lord come upon you and upon your children, as ye have said. But when the Jews heard these words they waxed bitter in soul, and caught hold on Joseph and took him and shut him up in an house wherein was no window, and guards were set at the door: and they sealed the door of the place where Joseph was shut up.

2 And upon the sabbath day the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites made an ordinance that all men should appear in the synagogue on the first day of the week. And all the multitude rose up early and took council in the synagogue by what death they should kill him. And when the council was set they commanded him to be brought with great dishonour. And when they had opened the door they found him not. And all the people were beside themselves and amazed, because they found the seals closed, and Caiaphas had the key. And they durst not any more lay hands upon them that had spoken in the behalf of Jesus before Pilate.

XIII

1 And while they yet sat in the synagogue and marvelled because of Joseph, there came certain of the guard which the Jews had asked of Pilate to keep the sepulchre of Jesus lest peradventure his disciples should come and steal him away. And they spake and declared unto the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites that which had come to pass: how that there was a great earthquake, and we saw an angel descend from heaven, and he rolled away the stone from the mouth of the cave, and sat upon it. And he did shine like snow and like lightning, and we were sore afraid and lay as dead men. And we heard the voice of the angel speaking with the women which waited at the sepulchre, saying: Fear ye not: for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. He is not here: he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay, and go quickly and say unto his disciples that he is risen from the dead, and is in Galilee.

2 The Jews say: With what women spake he? They of the guard say: We know not who they were. The Jews say: At what hour was it? They of the guard say: At midnight. The Jews say: And wherefore did ye not take the women? They of the guard say: We were become as dead me through fear, and we looked not to see the light of the day; how then could we take them? The Jews say: As the Lord liveth, we believe you not. They of the guard say unto the Jews: So many signs saw ye in that man, and ye believed not, how then should ye believe us? verily ye sware rightly ‘as the Lord liveth’, for he liveth indeed. Again they of the guard say: We have heard that ye shut up him that begged the body of Jesus, and that ye scaled the door; and when ye had opened it ye found him not. Give ye therefore Joseph and we will give you Jesus. The Jews say: Joseph is departed unto his own city. They of the guard say unto the Jews: Jesus also is risen, as we have heard of the angel, and he is in Galilee.

3 And when the Jews heard these words they were sore afraid, saying: Take heed lest this report be heard and all men incline unto Jesus. And the Jews took counsel and laid down much money and gave it to the soldiers, saying: Say ye: While we slept his disciples came by night and stole him away. And if this come to the governor’s hearing we will persuade him and secure you. And they took the money and did as they were instructed. [And this their saying was published abroad among all men. lat.]

XIV

1 Now a certain priest named Phinees and Addas a teacher and Aggaeus (Ogias Copt., Egias lat.) a Levite came down from Galilee unto Jerusalem and told the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites, saying: We saw Jesus and his disciples sitting upon the mountain which is called Mamilch (Mambre or Malech lat., Mabrech Copt.), and he said unto his disciples: Go into all the world and preach unto every creature (the whole creation): he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. [And these signs shall follow upon them that believe: in my name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands upon the sick and they shall recover.] And while Jesus yet spake unto his disciples we saw him taken up into heaven.

2 The elders and the priests and Levites say: Give glory to the God of Israel and make confession unto him: did ye indeed (or that ye did) hear and see those things which ye have told us? They that told them say: As the Lord God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob liveth, we did hear these things and we saw him taken up into heaven. The elders and the priests and the Levites say unto them: Came ye for this end, that ye might tell us, or came ye to pay your vows unto God? And they say: To pay our vows unto God. The elders and the chief priests and the Levites say unto them: If ye came to pay your vows unto God, to what purpose is this idle tale which ye have babbled before all the people? Phinees the priest and Addas the teacher and Aggaeus the Levite say unto the rulers of the synagogue and priests and Levites: If these words which ye have spoken and seen be sin, lo, we are before you: do unto us as seemeth good in your eyes. And they took the book of the law and adjured them that they should no more tell any man these words: and they gave them to eat and to drink, and put them out of the city: moreover they gave them money, and three men to go with them, and they set them on their way as far as Galilee, and they departed in peace.

3 Now when these men were departed into Galilee, the chief priests and the rulers of the synagogue and the elders gathered together in the synagogue, and shut the gate, and lamented with a great lamentation, saying: What is this sign which is come to pass in Israel? But Amlas and Caiaphas said: Wherefore are ye troubled? why weep ye? Know ye not that his disciples gave much gold unto them that kept the sepulchre and taught them to say that an angel came down and rolled away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? But the priests and the elders said: Be it so, that his disciples did steal away his body; but how is his soul entered into his body, and how abideth he in Galilee? But they could not answer these things, and hardly in the end said: It is not lawful for us to believe the uncircumcised. [Lat. (and Copt., and Arm.): Ought we to believe the soldiers, that an angel came down from heaven and rolled away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? but in truth his disciples gave . . . sepulchre. Know ye not that it is not lawful for Jews to believe any word of the uncircumcised, knowing that they who received much good from us have spoken according as we taught them.]

XV

And Nicodemus rose up and stood before the council, saying: Ye say well. Know ye not, O people of the Lord, the men that came down out of Galilee, that they fear God and are men of substance, hating covetousness (a lie, Lat.), men of peace? And they have told you with an oath, saying: We saw Jesus upon the mount Mamilch with his disciples and that he taught them all things that ye heard of them, and, say they, we saw him taken up into heaven. And no man asked them in what manner he was taken up. For like as the book of the holy scriptures hath taught us that Elias also was taken up into heaven, and Eliseus cried out with a loud voice, and Elias cast his hairy cloak upon Eliseus, and Eliseus cast the cloak upon Jordan and passed over and went unto Jericho. And the sons of the prophets met him and said: Eliseus, where is thy lord Elias? and he said that he was taken up into heaven. And they said unto Eliseus: Hath not a spirit caught him up and cast him upon one of the mountains? but let us take our servants with us and seek after him. And they persuaded Eliseus and he went with them, and they sought him three days and found him not: and they knew that he had been taken up. And now hearken unto me, and let us send into all the coasts (al. mountains) of Israel and see whether the Christ were not taken up by a spirit and cast upon one of the mountains. And this saying pleased them all: and they sent into all the coasts (mountains, Lat.) and sought Jesus and found him not. But they found Joseph in Arimathaea, and no man durst lay hands upon him.

2 And they told the elders and the priests and the Levites, saying: We went about throughout all the coasts of Israel, and we found not Jesus; but Joseph we found in Arimathaea. And when they heard of Joseph they rejoiced and gave glory to the God of Israel. And the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites took counsel how they should meet with Joseph, and they took a volume of paper and wrote unto Joseph these words:

Peace be unto thee. We know that we have sinned against God and against thee, and we have prayed unto the God of Israel that thou shouldest vouchsafe to come unto thy fathers and unto thy children (Lat. But thou didst pray unto the God of Israel, and he delivered thee out of our hands. Now therefore vouchsafe, &c.) for we are all troubled, because when we opened the door we found thee not: and we know that we devised an evil counsel against thee, but the Lord helped thee. And the Lord himself made of none effect (scattered) our counsel against thee, O father Joseph, thou that art honourable among all the people.

3 And they chose out of all Israel seven men that were friends of Joseph, whom Joseph also himself accounted his friends, and the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites said unto them: See: if he receive our epistle and read it, know that he will come with you unto us: but if he read it not, know that he is vexed with us, and salute ye him in peace and return unto us. And they blessed the men and let them go.

And the men came unto Joseph and did him reverence, and said unto him: Peace be unto thee. And he said: Peace be unto you and unto all the people of Israel. And they gave him the book of the epistle, and Joseph received it and read it and embraced (or kissed) the epistle and blessed God and said: Blessed be the Lord God, which hath redeemed Israel from shedding innocent blood; and blessed be the Lord, which sent his angel and sheltered me under his wings. (And he kissed them) and set a table before them, and they did eat and drink and lay there.

4 And they rose up early and prayed: and Joseph saddled his she-ass and went with the men, and they came unto the holy city, even Jerusalem. And all the people came to meet Joseph and cried: Peace be to thine entering-in. And he said unto all the people: Peace be unto you, and all the people kissed him. And the people prayed with Joseph, and they were astonished at the sight of him.

And Nicodemus received him into his house and made a great feast, and called Annas and Caiaphas and the elders and the priests and the Levites unto his house. And they made merry eating and drinking with Joseph. And when they had sung an hymn (or blessed God) every man went unto his house. But Joseph abode in the house of Nicodemus.

5 And on the morrow, which was the preparation, the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites rose up early and came to the house of Nicodemus, and Nicodemus met them and said: Peace be unto you. And they said: Peace be unto thee and to Joseph and unto all thy house and to all the house of Joseph. And he brought them into his house. And the whole council was set, and Joseph sat between Annas and Caiaphas and no man durst speak unto him a word. And Joseph said: Why is it that ye have called me? And they beckoned unto Nicodemus that he should speak unto Joseph. And Nicodemus opened his mouth and said unto Joseph: Father, thou knowest that the reverend doctors and the priests and the Levites seek to learn a matter of thee. And Joseph said: Inquire ye. And Annas and Caiaphas took the book of the law and adjured Joseph saying: Give glory to the God of Israel and make confession unto him: [for Achar, when he was adjured of the prophet Jesus(Joshua), foresware not himself but declared unto him all things and hid not a word from him: thou therefore also hide not from us so much as a word. And Joseph: I will not hide one word from you.] And they said unto him: We were greatly vexed because thou didst beg the body of Jesus and wrappedst it in a clean linen cloth and didst lay him in a tomb. And for this cause we put thee in safeguard in an house wherein was no window, and we put keys and seals upon the doors, and guards did keep the place wherein thou wast shut up. And on the first day of the week we opened it and found thee not, and we were sore troubled, and amazement fell upon all the people of the Lord until yesterday. Now, therefore, declare unto us what befell thee.

6 And Joseph said: On the preparation day about the tenth hour ye did shut me up, and I continued there the whole sabbath. And at midnight as I stood and prayed the house wherein ye shut me up was taken up by the four corners, and I saw as it were a flashing of light in mine eyes, and being filled with fear I fell to the earth. And one took me by the hand and removed me from the place whereon I had fallen; and moisture of water was shed on me from my head unto my feet, and an odour of ointment came about my nostrils. And he wiped my face and kissed me and said unto me: Fear not, Joseph: open thine eyes and see who it is that speaketh with thee. And I looked up and saw Jesus and I trembled, and supposed that it was a spirit: and I said the commandments: and he said them with me. And [as] ye are not ignorant that a spirit, if it meet any man and hear the commandments, straightway fleeth. And when I perceived that he said them with me, I said unto him: Rabbi Elias? And he said unto me: I am not Elias. And I said unto him: Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me: I am Jesus, whose body thou didst beg of Pilate, and didst clothe me in clean linen and cover my face with a napkin, and lay me in thy new cave and roll a great stone upon the door of the cave. And I said to him that spake with me: Show me the place where I laid thee. And he brought me and showed me the place where I laid him, and the linen cloth lay therein, and the napkin that was upon his face. And I knew that it was Jesus. And he took me by the hand and set me in the midst of mine house, the doors being shut, and laid me upon my bed and said unto me: Peace be unto thee. And he kissed me and said unto me: Until forty days be ended go not out of thine house: for behold I go unto my brethren into Galilee.

XVI

1 And when the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites heard these words of Joseph the became as dead men and fell to the ground, and they fasted until the ninth hour. And Nicodemus with Joseph comforted Annas and Caiaphas and the priests and the Levites, saying: Rise up and stand on your feet and taste bread and strengthen your souls, for tomorrow is the sabbath of the Lord. And they rose up and prayed unto God and did eat and drink, and departed every man to his house.

2 And on the sabbath the (al. our) teachers and the priests and Levites sat and questioned one another and said: What is this wrath that is come upon us? for we know his father and his mother. Levi the teacher saith: I know that his parents feared God and kept not back their vows and paid tithes three times a year. And when Jesus was born, his parents brought him up unto this place and gave sacrifices and burnt-offerings to God. And [when] the great teacher Symeon took him into his arms and said: Now lettest thou thy servant, Lord, depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel. And Symeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother: I give thee good tidings concerning this child. And Mary said: Good, my lord? And Symeon said to her : Good. Behold, he is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against: and a sword shall pierce through thine own heart also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

3 They say unto Levi the teacher: How knowest thou these things? Levi saith unto them: Know ye not that from him I did learn the law? The council say unto him: We would see thy father. And they sent after his father, and asked of him, and he said to them: Why believed ye not my son? the blessed and righteous Symeon, he did teach him the law. The council saith: Rabbi Levi, is the word true which thou hast spoken? And he said: It is true.

Then the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites said among themselves: Come, let us send into Galilee unto the three men which came and told us of his teaching and his taking-up, and let them tell us how they saw him taken up. And this word pleased them all, and they sent the three men which before had gone with them into Galilee and said to them: Say unto Rabbi Addas and Rabbi Phinees and Rabbi Aggaeus: peace be to you and to all that are with you. Inasmuch as great questioning hath arisen in the council, we have sent unto you to call you unto this holy place of Jerusalem.

4 And the men went into Galilee and found them sitting and meditating upon the law, and saluted them in peace. And the men that were in Galilee said unto them that were come to them: Peace be upon all Israel. And they said: Peace be unto you. Again they said unto them: Wherefore are ye come? And they that were sent said: The council calleth you unto the holy city Jerusalem. And when the men heard that they were bidden by the council, they prayed to God and sat down to meat with the men and did eat and drink, and rose up and came in peace unto Jerusalem.

5 And on the morrow the council was set in the synagogue, and they examined them, saying: Did ye in very deed see Jesus sitting upon the mount Mamilch, as he taught his eleven disciples, and saw ye him taken up? And the men answered them and said: Even as we saw him taken up, even so did we tell it unto you.

6 Annas saith: Set them apart from one another, and let us see if their word agreeth. And they set them apart one from another, and they call Addas first and say unto him: How sawest thou Jesus taken up? Addas saith: While he yet sat upon the Mount Mamilch and taught his disciples, we saw a cloud that overshadowed him and his disciples: and the cloud carried him up into heaven, and his disciples lay (al. prayed, lying) on their faces upon the earth. And they called Phinees the priest, and questioned him also, saying: How sawest thou Jesus taken up? And he spake in like manner. And again they asked Aggaeus, and he also spake in like manner. And the council said: It is contained in the law of Moses: At the mouth of two or three shall every word be established.

Abuthem (Bouthem Gr., Abudem lat., Abuden, Abuthen Arm.,om. Copt.) the teacher saith: It is written in the law: Enoch walked with God and is not, because God took him. Jaeirus the teacher said: Also we have heard of the death of the holy Moses and have not seen him; for it is written in the law of the Lord: And Moses died at the mouth of the Lord, and no man knew of his sepulchre unto this day. And Rabbi Levi said: Wherefore was it that Rabbi Symeon said when he saw Jesus: Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign spoken against? And Rabbi Isaac said: It is written in the law: Behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall go before thee to keep thee in every good way, for my name is named thereon.

7 Then said Annas and Caiaphas: Ye have well said those things which are written in the law of Moses, that no man saw the death of Enoch, and no man hath named the death of Moses. But Jesus spake before Pilate, and we know that we saw him receive buffets and spittings upon his face, and that the soldiers put on him a crown of thorns and that he was scourged and received condemnation from Pilate, and that he was crucified at the place of a skull and two thieves with him, and that they gave him vinegar to drink with gall, and that Longinus the soldier pierced his side with a spear, and that Joseph our honourable father begged his body, and that, as he saith, he rose again, and that (lit. as) the three teachers say: We saw him taken up into heaven, and that Rabbi Levi spake and testified to the things which were spoken by Rabbi Symeon, and that he said: Behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign spoken against.

And all the teachers said unto all the people of the Lord: If this hath come to pass from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes, ye shall surely know, O house of Jacob, that it is written: Cursed is every one that hangeth upon a tree. And another scripture teacheth: The gods which made not the heaven and the earth shall perish.

And the priests and the Levites said one to another: If his memorial endure until the Sommos (Copt. Soum) which is called Jobel (i. e. the Jubilee), know ye that he will prevail for ever and raise up for himself a new people.

Then the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites admonished all Israel, saying: Cursed is that man who shall worship that which man’s hand hath made, and cursed is the man who shall worship creatures beside the Creator. And all the people said: Amen, Amen.

And all the people sang an hymn unto the Lord and said: Blessed be the Lord who hath given rest unto the people of Israel according to all that he spake. There hath not one word fallen to the ground of all his good saying which he spake unto his servant Moses. The Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers: let him not forsake us. And let him not destroy us from turning our heart unto him, from walking in all his ways and keeping his statutes and his judgements which he commanded our fathers. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day. And there shall be one Lord and his name one, even the Lord our King: he shall save us.

There is none like unto thee, O Lord. Great art thou, O Lord, and great is thy name.

Heal us, O Lord, by thy power, and we shall be healed: save us, Lord, and we shall be saved: for we are thy portion and thine inheritance.

And the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, for the Lord hath begun to make us to be his people.

And when they had all sung this hymn they departed every man to his house, glorifying God. [For his is the glory, world without end. Amen.]

ACTS OF PILATE

PART II. THE DESCENT INTO HELL

This writing, or the nucleus of it, the story of the Descent into Hell was not originally part of the Acts of Pilate. It is -apart from its setting- probably an older document. When it was first attached to the Acts of Pilate is uncertain. The object of this prefatory note is to say that we have the text in three forms, [however, only the Latin A text will be given. For a complete listing of all three texts see M.R. James apocryphal New Testament].

.[Part I, cap. xvi, ends with words of the rulers of the synagogue, &c. All nations shall serve him, and kings shall come from afar worshipping and magnifying him. Part II, cap. i, runs on from this.

I (XVII)

1 And Joseph arose and said unto Annas and Caiaphas: Truly and of right do ye marvel because ye have heard that Jesus hath been seen alive after death, and that he hath ascended into heaven. Nevertheless it is more marvelous that he rose not alone from the dead, but did raise up alive many other dead out of their sepulchres, and they have been seen of many in Jerusalem. And now hearken unto me; for we all know the blessed Simeon, the high priest which received the child Jesus in his hands in the temple. And this Simeon had two sons, brothers in blood and we all were at their falling asleep and at their burial. Go therefore and look upon their sepulchres: for they are open, because they have risen, and behold they are in the city of Arimathaea dwelling together in prayer. And indeed men hear them crying out, yet they speak with no man, but are silent as dead men. But come, let us go unto them and with all honour and gentleness bring them unto us, and if we adjure them, perchance they will tell us concerning the mystery of their rising again.

2 When they heard these things, they all rejoiced. And Annas and Caiaphas, Nicodemus and Joseph and Gamaliel went and found them not in their sepulchre, but they went unto the city of Arimathaea, and found them there, kneeling on their knees and giving themselves unto prayer. And they kissed them, and with all reverence and in the fear of God they brought them to Jerusalem into the synagogue. And they shut the doors and took the law of the Lord and put it into their hands, and adjured them by the God Adonai and the God of Israel which spake unto our fathers by the prophets, saying: Believe ye that it is Jesus which raised you from the dead? Tell us how ye have arisen from the dead.

3 And when Karinus and Leucius heard this adjuration, they trembled in their body and groaned, being troubled in heart. And looking up together unto heaven they made the seal of the cross with their fingers upon their tongues, and forthwith they spake both of them, saying: Give us each a volume of paper, and let us write that which we have seen and heard. And they gave them unto them, and each of them sat down and wrote, saying:

II (XVIII)

1 O Lord Jesu Christ, the life and resurrection of the dead (al. resurrection of the dead and the life of the living), suffer us to speak of the mysteries of thy majesty which thou didst perform after thy death upon the cross, inasmuch as we have been adjured by thy Name. For thou didst command us thy servants to tell no man the secrets of thy divine majesty which thou wroughtest in hell.

Now when we were set together with all our fathers in the deep, in obscurity of darkness, on a sudden there came a golden heat of the sun and a purple and royal light shining upon us. And immediately the father of the whole race of men, together with all the patriarchs and prophets, rejoiced, saying: This light is the beginning (author) of everlasting light which did promise to send unto us his co-eternal light. And Esaias cried out and said: This is the light of the Father, even the Son of God, according as I prophesied when I lived upon the earth: The land of Zabulon and the land of Nephthalim beyond Jordan, of Galilee of the Gentiles, the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light, and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them did the light shine. And now hath it come and shone upon us that sit in death.

2 And as we all rejoiced in the light which shined upon us, there came unto us our father Simeon, and he rejoicing said unto us: Glorify ye the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God; for I received him in my hands in the temple when he was born a child, and being moved of the Holy Ghost I made confession and said unto him: Now have mine eyes seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel. And when they heard these things, the whole multitude of the saints rejoiced yet more.

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3 And after that there came one as it were a dweller in the wilderness, and he was inquired of by all: Who art thou? And he answered them and said: I am John, the voice and the prophet of the most High, which came before the face of his advent to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation unto his people, for the remission of their sins. And when I saw him coming unto me, being moved of the Holy Ghost, I said: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him that taketh away the sins of the world. And I baptized him in the river of Jordan, and saw the Holy Ghost descending upon him in the likeness of a dove, and heard a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And now have I come before his face, and come down to declare unto you that he is at hand to visit us, even the day spring, the Son of God, coming from on high unto us that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

III (XIX)

1 And when father Adam that was first created heard this, even that Jesus was baptized in Jordan, he cried out to Seth his son, saying: Declare unto thy sons the patriarchs and the prophets all that thou didst hear from Michael the archangel, when I sent thee unto the gates of paradise that thou mightest entreat God to send thee his angel to give thee the oil of the tree of mercy to anoint my body when I was sick. Then Seth drew near unto the holy patriarchs and prophets, and said: When I, Seth, was praying at the gates of paradise, behold Michael the angel of the Lord appeared unto me, saying: I am sent unto thee from the Lord: it is I that am set over the body of man. And I say unto thee, Seth, vex not thyself with tears, praying and entreating for the oil of the tree of mercy, that thou mayest anoint thy father Adam for the pain of his body: for thou wilt not be able to receive it save in the last days and times, save when five thousand and five hundred (al. 5,952) years are accomplished: then shall the most beloved Son of God come upon the earth to raise up the body of Adam and the bodies of the dead, and he shall come and be baptized in Jordan. And when he is come forth of the water of Jordan, then shall he anoint with the oil of mercy all that believe on him, and that oil of mercy shall be unto all generations of them that shall be born of water and of the Holy Ghost, unto life eternal. Then shall the most beloved Son of God, even Christ Jesus, come down upon the earth and shall bring in our father Adam into paradise unto the tree of mercy.

And when they heard all these things of Seth, all the patriarchs and prophets rejoiced with a great rejoicing.

IV (XX)

1 And while all the saints were rejoicing, behold Satan the prince and chief of death said unto Hell: Make thyself ready to receive Jesus who boasteth himself that he is the Son of God, whereas he is a man that feareth death, and sayeth: My soul is sorrowful even unto death. And he hath been much mine enemy, doing me great hurt, and many that I had made blind, lame, dumb, leprous, and possessed he hath healed with a word: and some whom I have brought unto thee dead, them hath he taken away from thee.

2 Hell answered and said unto Satan the prince: Who is he that is so mighty, if he be a man that feareth death? for all the mighty ones of the earth are held in subjection by my power, even they whom thou hast brought me subdued by thy power. If, then, thou art mighty, what manner of man is this Jesus who, though he fear death, resisteth thy power? If he be so mighty in his manhood, verily I say unto thee he is almighty in his god-head, and no man can withstand his power. And when he saith that he feareth death, he would ensnare thee, and woe shall be unto thee for everlasting ages. But Satan the prince of Tartarus said: Why doubtest thou and fearest to receive this Jesus which is thine adversary and mine? For I tempted him, and have stirred up mine ancient people of the Jews with envy and wrath against him. I have sharpened a spear to thrust him through, gall and vinegar have I mingled to give him to drink, and I have prepared a cross to crucify him and nails to pierce him: and his death is nigh at hand, that I may bring him unto thee to be subject unto thee and me.

3 Hell answered and said: Thou hast told me that it is he that hath taken away dead men from me. For there be many which while they lived on the earth have taken dead men from me, yet not by their own power but by prayer to God, and their almighty God hath taken them from me. Who is this Jesus which by his own word without prayer hath drawn dead men from me? Perchance it is he which by the word of his command did restore to life Lazarus which was four days dead and stank and was corrupt, whom I held here dead. Satan the prince of death answered and said: It is that same Jesus. When Hell heard that he said unto him: I adjure thee by thy strength and mine own that thou bring him not unto me. For at that time I, when I heard the command of his word, did quake and was overwhelmed with fear, and all my ministries with me were troubled. Neither could we keep Lazarus, but he like an eagle shaking himself leaped forth with all agility and swiftness, and departed from us, and the earth also which held the dead body of Lazarus straightway gave him up alive. Wherefore now I know that that man which was able to do these things is a God strong in command and mighty in manhood, and that he is the saviour of mankind. And if thou bring him unto me he will set free all that are here shut up in the hard prison and bound in the chains of their sins that cannot be broken, and will bring them unto the life of his god head for ever.

V (XXI)

1 And as Satan the prince, and Hell, spoke this together, suddenly there came a voice as of thunder and a spiritual cry: Remove, O princes, your gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. When Hell heard that he said unto Satan the prince: Depart from me and go out of mine abode: if thou be a mighty man of war, fight thou against the King of glory. But what hast thou to do with him? And Hell cast Satan forth out of his dwelling. Then said Hell unto his wicked ministers: Shut ye the hard gates of brass and put on them the bars of iron and withstand stoutly, lest we that hold captivity be taken captive.

2 But when all the multitude of the saints heard it, they spake with a voice of rebuking unto Hell: Open thy gates, that the King of glory may come in. And David cried out, saying: Did I not when I was alive upon earth, foretell unto you: Let them give thanks unto the Lord, even his mercies and his wonders unto the children of men; who hath broken the gates of brass and smitten the bars of iron in sunder? he hath taken them out of the way of their iniquity. And thereafter in like manner Esaias said: Did not I when I was alive upon earth foretell unto you: The dead shall arise, and they that are in the tombs shall rise again, and they that are in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew which cometh of the Lord is their healing? And again I said: O death, where is thy sting? O Hell, where is thy victory?

3 When they heard that of Esaias, all the saints said unto Hell: Open thy gates: now shalt thou be overcome and weak and without strength. And there came a great voice as of thunder, saying: Remove, O princes, your gates, and be ye lift up ye doors of hell, and the King of glory shall come in. And when Hell saw that they so cried out twice, he said, as if he knew it not: Who is the King of glory? And David answered Hell and said: The words of this cry do I know, for by his spirit I prophesied the same; and now I say unto thee that which I said before: The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, he is the King of glory. And: The Lord looked down from heaven that he might hear the groanings of them that are in fetters and deliver the children of them that have been slain. And now, O thou most foul and stinking Hell, open thy gates, that the King of glory may come in. And as David spake thus unto Hell, the Lord of majesty appeared in the form of a man and lightened the eternal darkness and brake the bonds that could not be loosed: and the succour of his everlasting might visited us that sat in the deep darkness of our transgressions and in the shadow of death of our sins.

VI (XXII)

1 When Hell and death and their wicked ministers saw that, they were stricken with fear, they and their cruel officers, at the sight of the brightness of so great light in their own realm, seeing Christ of a sudden in their abode, and they cried out, saying: We are overcome by thee. Who art thou that art sent by the Lord for our confusion? Who art thou that without all damage of corruption, and with the signs (?) of thy majesty unblemished, dost in wrath condemn our power? Who art thou that art so great and so small, both humble and exalted, both soldier and commander, a marvelous warrior in the shape of a bondsman, and a King of glory dead and living, whom the cross bare slain upon it? Thou that didst lie dead in the sepulchre hast come down unto us living and at thy death all creation quaked and all the stars were shaken and thou hast become free among the dead and dost rout our legions. Who art thou that settest free the prisoners that are held bound by original sin and restorest them into their former liberty? Who art thou that sheddest thy divine and bright light upon them that were blinded with the darkness of their sins? After the same manner all the legions of devils were stricken with like fear and cried out all together in the terror of their confusion, saying: Whence art thou, Jesus, a man so mighty and bright in majesty, so excellent without spot and clean from sin? For that world of earth which hath been always subject unto us until now, and did pay tribute to our profit, hath never sent unto us a dead man like thee, nor ever dispatched such a gift unto Hell. Who then art thou that so fearlessly enterest our borders, and not only fearest not our torments, but besides essayest to bear away all men out of our bonds? Peradventure thou art that Jesus, of whom Satan our prince said that by thy death of the cross thou shouldest receive the dominion of the whole world.

2 Then did the King of glory in his majesty trample upon death, and laid hold on Satan the prince and delivered him unto the power of Hell, and drew Adam to him unto his own brightness.

VII (XXIII)

Then Hell, receiving Satan the prince, with sore reproach said unto him: O prince of perdition and chief of destruction, Beelzebub, the scorn of the angels and spitting of the righteous why wouldest thou do this? Thou wouldest crucify the King of glory and at his decease didst promise us great spoils of his death: like a fool thou knewest not what thou didst. For behold now, this Jesus putteth to flight by the brightness of his majesty all the darkness of death, and hath broken the strong depths of the prisons, and let out the prisoners and loosed them that were bound. And all that were sighing in our torments do rejoice against us, and at their prayers our dominions are vanquished and our realms conquered, and now no nation of men feareth us any more. And beside this, the dead which were never wont to be proud triumph over us, and the captives which never could be joyful do threaten us. O prince Satan, father of all the wicked and ungodly and renegades wherefore wouldest thou do this? They that from the beginning until now have despaired of life and salvation-now is none of their wonted roarings heard, neither doth any groan from them sound in our ears, nor is there any sign of tears upon the face of any of them. O prince Satan, holder of the keys of hell, those thy riches which thou hadst gained by the tree of transgression and the losing of paradise, thou hast lost by the tree of the cross, and all thy gladness hath perished. When thou didst hang up Christ Jesus the King of glory thou wroughtest against thyself and against me. Henceforth thou shalt know what eternal torments and infinite pains thou art to suffer in my keeping for ever. O prince Satan, author of death and head of all pride, thou oughtest first to have sought out matter of evil in this Jesus: Wherefore didst thou adventure without cause to crucify him unjustly against whom thou foundest no blame, and to bring into our realm the innocent and righteous one, and to lose the guilty and the ungodly and unrighteous of the whole world? And when Hell had spoken thus unto Satan the prince, then said the King of glory unto Hell: Satan the prince shall be in thy power unto all ages in the stead of Adam and his children, even those that are my righteous ones.

VIII (XXIV)

1 And the Lord stretching forth his hand, said: Come unto me, all ye my saints which bear mine image and my likeness. Ye that by the tree and the devil and death were condemned, behold now the devil and death condemned by the tree. And forthwith all the saints were gathered in one under the hand of the Lord. And the Lord holding the right hand of Adam, said unto him: Peace be unto thee with all thy children that are my righteous ones. But Adam, casting himself at the knees of the Lord entreated him with tears and beseechings, and said with a loud voice: I will magnify thee, O Lord, for thou hast set me up and not made my foes to triumph over me: O Lord my God I cried unto thee and thou hast healed me; Lord, thou hast brought my soul out of hell, thou hast delivered me from them that go down to the pit. Sing praises unto the Lord all ye saints of his, and give thanks unto him for the remembrance of his holiness. For there is wrath in his indignation and life is in his good pleasure. In like manner all the saints of God kneeled and cast themselves at the feet of the Lord, saying with one accord: Thou art come, O redeemer of the world: that which thou didst foretell by the law and by thy prophets, that hast thou accomplished in deed. Thou hast redeemed the living by thy cross, and by the death of the cross thou hast come down unto us, that thou mightest save us out of hell and death through thy majesty. O Lord, like as thou hast set the name of thy glory in the heavens and set up thy cross for a token of redemption upon the earth, so, Lord, set thou up the sign of the victory of thy cross in hell, that death may have no more dominion.

2 And the Lord stretched forth his hand and made the sign of the cross over Adam and over all his saints, and he took the right hand of Adam and went up out of hell, and all the saints followed him. Then did holy David cry aloud and say: Sing unto the Lord a new song, for he hath done marvelous things. His right hand hath wrought salvation for him and his holy arm. The Lord hath made known his saving health, before the face of all nations hath he revealed his righteousness. And the whole multitude of the saints answered, saying: Such honour have all his saints. Amen, Alleluia.

3 And thereafter Habacuc the prophet cried out and said: Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people to set free thy chosen. And all the saints answered, saying: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. God is the Lord and hath showed us light. Amen, Alleluia. Likewise after that the prophet Micheas also cried, saying: What God is like thee, O Lord, taking away iniquity and removing sins? and now thou withholdest thy wrath for a testimony that thou art merciful of free will, and thou dost turn away and have mercy on us, thou forgivest all our iniquities and hast sunk all our sins in the depths of the sea, as thou swarest unto our fathers in the days of old. And all the saints answered, saying: This is our God for ever and ever, he shall be our guide, world without end. Amen, Alleluia. And so spake all the prophets, making mention of holy words out of their praises, and all the saints followed the Lord, crying Amen, Alleluia.

IX (XXV)

But the Lord holding the hand of Adam delivered him unto Michael the archangel, and all the saints followed Michael the archangel, and he brought them all into the glory and beauty (grace) of paradise. And there met with them two men, ancients of days, and when they were asked of the saints: Who are ye that have not yet been dead in hell with us and are set in paradise in the body? then one of them answering, said: I am Enoch which was translated hither by the word of the Lord, and this that is with me is Elias the Thesbite which was taken up in a chariot of fire: and up to this day we have not tasted death, but we are received unto the coming of Antichrist to fight against him with signs and wonders of God, and to be slain of him in Jerusalem, and after three days and a half to be taken up again alive on the clouds.

X (XXVI)

And as Enoch and Elias spake thus with the saints, behold there came another man of vile habit, bearing upon his shoulders the sign of the cross; whom when they beheld, all the saints said unto him: Who art thou? for thine appearance is as of a robber; and wherefore is it that thou bearest a sign upon thy shoulders? And he answered them and said: Ye have rightly said: for I was a robber, doing all manner of evil upon the earth. And the Jews crucified me with Jesus, and I beheld the wonders in the creation which came to pass through the cross of Jesus when he was crucified, and I believed that he was the maker of all creatures and the almighty king, and I besought him, saying: Remember me, Lord, when thou comest into thy kingdom. And forthwith he received my prayer, and said unto me: Verily I say unto thee, this day shalt thou be with me in paradise: and he gave me the sign of the cross, saying: Bear this and go unto paradise, and if the angel that keepeth paradise suffer thee not to enter in, show him the sign of the cross; and thou shalt say unto him: Jesus Christ the Son of God who now is crucified hath sent me. And when I had so done, I spake all these things unto the angel that keepeth paradise; and when he heard this of me, forthwith he opened the door and brought me in and set me at the right hand of paradise, saying: Lo now, tarry a little, and Adam the father of all mankind will enter in with all his children that are holy and righteous, after the triumph and glory of the ascending up of Christ the Lord that is crucified. When they heard all these words of the robber, all the holy patriarchs and prophets said with one voice: Blessed be the Lord Almighty, the Father of eternal good things, the Father of mercies, thou that hast given such grace unto thy sinners and hast brought them again into the beauty of paradise and into thy good pastures: for this is the most holy life of the spirit. Amen, Amen.

XI (XXVII)

These are the divine and holy mysteries which we saw and heard, even I, Karinus, and Leucius: but we were not suffered to relate further the rest of the mysteries of God, according as Michael the archangel strictly charged us, saying: Ye shall go with your brethren unto Jerusalem and remain in prayer, crying out and glorifying the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath raised you from the dead together with him: and ye shall not be speaking with any man, but sit as dumb men, until the hour come when the Lord himself suffereth you to declare the mysteries of his god head. But unto us Michael the archangel gave commandment that we should go over Jordan unto a place rich and fertile, where are many which rose again together with us for a testimony of the resurrection of Christ the Lord. For three days only were allowed unto us who rose from the dead, to keep the passover of the Lord in Jerusalem with our kindred (parents) that are living for a testimony of the resurrection of Christ the Lord: and we were baptized in the holy river of Jordan and received white robes, every one of us. And after the three days, when we had kept the passover of the Lord, all they were caught up in the clouds which had risen again with us, and were taken over Jordan and were no more seen of any man. But unto us it was said that we should remain in the city of Arimathaea and continue in prayer.

These be all things which the Lord bade us declare unto you: give praise and thanksgiving (confession) unto him, and repent that he may have mercy upon you. Peace be unto you from the same Lord Jesus Christ which is the Saviour of us all. Amen.

And when they had finished writing all things in the several volumes of paper they arose; and Karinus gave that which he had written into the hands of Annas and Caiaphas and Gamaliel; likewise Leucius gave that which he had written into the hands of Nicodemus and Joseph. And suddenly they were transfigured and became white exceedingly and were no more seen. But their writings were found to be the same (lit. equal), neither more nor less by one letter.

And when all the synagogue of the Jews heard all these marvelous sayings of Karinus and Leucius, they said one to another: Of a truth all these things were wrought by the Lord, and blessed be the Lord, world without end, Amen. And they went out all of them in great trouble of mind, smiting their breasts with fear and trembling, and departed every man unto his own home.

And all these things which were spoken by the Jews in their synagogue, did Joseph and Nicodemus forthwith declare unto the governor. And Pilate himself wrote all the things that were done and said concerning Jesus by the Jews, and laid up all the words in the public books of his judgement hall (praetorium).

XII (XXVIII)

This chapter is not found in the majority of copies.

After these things Pilate entered into the temple of the Jews and gathered together all the chief of the priests, and the teachers (grammaticos) and scribes and doctors of the law, and went in with them into the holy place of the temple and commanded all the doors to be shut, and said unto them: We have heard that ye have in this temple a certain great Bible; wherefore I ask you that it be presented before us. And when that great Bible adorned with gold and precious jewels was brought by four ministers, Pilate said to them all: I adjure you by the God of your fathers which commanded you to build this temple in the place of his sanctuary, that ye hide not the truth from me. Ye know all the things that are written in this Bible; but tell me now if ye have found in the scriptures that this Jesus whom ye have crucified is the Son of God which should come for the salvation of mankind, and in what year of the times he must come. Declare unto me whether ye crucified him in ignorance or knowingly.

And Annas and Caiaphas when they were thus adjured commanded all the rest that were will them to go out of the temple; and they themselves shut all the doors of the temple and of the sanctuary, and said unto Pilate: Thou hast adjured us, O excellent judge, by the building of this temple to make manifest unto thee the truth and reason (or a true account). After that we had crucified Jesus, knowing not that he was the Son of God, but supposing that by some chance he did his wondrous works, we made a great assembly (synagogue) in this temple; and as we conferred one with another concerning the signs of the mighty works which Jesus had done, we found many witnesses of our own nation who said that they had seen Jesus alive after his passion, and that he was passed into the height of the heaven. Moreover, we saw two witnesses whom Jesus raised from the dead, who declared unto us many marvelous things which Jesus did among the dead, which things we have in writing in our hands. Now our custom is that every year before our assembly we open this holy Bible and inquire the testimony of God. And we have found in the first book of the Seventy how that Michael the angel spake unto the third son of Adam the first man concerning the five thousand and five hundred years, wherein should come the most beloved Son of God, even Christ: and furthermore we have thought that peradventure this same was the God of Israel which said unto Moses: Make thee an ark of the covenant in length two cubits and a half, and in breadth one cubit and a half, and in height one cubit and a half. For by those five cubits and a half we have understood and known the fashion of the ark of the old covenant, for that in five thousand and a half thousand years Jesus Christ should come in the ark of his body: and we have found that he is the God of Israel, even the Son of God. For after his passion, we the chief of the priests, because we marvelled at the signs which came to pass on his account did open the Bible, and searched out all the generations unto the generation of Joseph, and Mary the mother of Christ, taking her to be the seed of David: and we found that from the day when God made the heaven and the earth and the first man, from that time unto the Flood are 2,212 years: and from the Flood unto the building of the tower 531 years: and from the building of the tower unto Abraham 606 years: and from Abraham unto the coming of the children of Israel out of Egypt 470 years: and from the going of the children of Israel out of Egypt unto the building of the temple 511 years: and from the building of the temple unto the destruction of the same temple 464 years: so far found we in the Bible of Esdras: and inquiring from the burning of the temple unto the coming of Christ and his birth we found it to be 636 years, which together were five thousand and five hundred years like as we found it written in the Bible that Michael the archangel declared before unto Seth the third son of Adam, that after five thousand and a half thousand years Christ the Son of God hath (? should) come. Hitherto have we told no man, lest there should be a schism in our synagogues; and now, O excellent judge, thou hast adjured us by this holy Bible of the testimonies of God, and we do declare it unto thee: and we also have adjured thee by thy life and health that thou declare not these words unto any man in Jerusalem.

XIII (XXIX)

And Pilate, when he heard these words of Annas and Caiaphas, laid them all up amongst the acts of the Lord and Saviour in the public books of his judgement hall, and wrote a letter unto Claudius the king of the city of Rome, saying:

[The following Epistle or Report of Pilate is inserted in Greek into the late Acts of Peter and Paul ( 40) and the Pseudo-Marcellus Passion of Peter and Paul ( 19). We thus have it in Greek and Latin, and the Greek is used here as the basis of the version.]

Pontius Pilate unto Claudius, greeting.

There befell of late a matter which I myself brought to light (or made trial of): for the Jews through envy have punished themselves and their posterity with fearful judgements of their own fault; for whereas their fathers had promises (al. had announced unto them) that their God would send them out of heaven his holy one who should of right be called their king, and did promise that he would send him upon earth by a virgin; he, then (or this God of the Hebrews, then), came when I was governor of Judaea, and they beheld him enlightening the blind, cleansing lepers, healing the palsied, driving devils out of men, raising the dead, rebuking the winds, walking upon the waves of the sea dry-shod, and doing many other wonders, and all the people of the Jews calling him the Son of God: the chief priests therefore, moved with envy against him, took him and delivered him unto me and brought against him one false accusation after another, saying that he was a sorcerer and did things contrary to their law.

But I, believing that these things were so, having scourged him, delivered him unto their will: and they crucified him, and when he was buried they set guards upon him. But while my soldiers watched him he rose again on the third day: yet so much was the malice of the Jews kindled that they gave money to the soldiers, saying: Say ye that his disciples stole away his body. But they, though they took the money, were not able to keep silence concerning that which had come to pass, for they also have testified that they saw him arisen and that they received money from the Jews. And these things have I reported for this cause, lest some other should lie unto thee (lat. lest any lie otherwise) and thou shouldest deem right to believe the false tales of the Jews.

THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS

THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS
Translated by
Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst,
in collaboration with Fran?§ois Gaudard
From The Gospel of Judas
Edited by Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst
Published in book form complete with commentary by The National Geographic
Society.
Copyright (c) 2006 by The National Geographic Society.
All rights reserved. No part of this translation may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, without permission in writing from the National
Geographic Society.
INTRODUCTION: INCIPIT
The secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot
during a week three days before he celebrated Passover.
THE EARTHLY MINISTRY OF JESUS
When Jesus appeared on earth, he performed miracles and great wonders for the salvation
of humanity. And since some [walked] in the way of righteousness while others walked
in their transgressions, the twelve disciples were called.
He began to speak with them about the mysteries beyond the world and what would
take place at the end. Often he did not appear to his disciples as himself, but he was found
among them as a child.
SCENE 1: Jesus dialogues with his disciples: The prayer of thanksgiving or the eucharist
One day he was with his disciples in Judea, and he found them gathered together and
seated in pious observance. When he [approached] his disciples, [34] gathered together
and seated and offering a prayer of thanksgiving over the bread, [he] laughed.
The disciples said to [him], “Master, why are you laughing at [our] prayer of
thanksgiving? We have done what is right.”
He answered and said to them, “I am not laughing at you. are not doing this
because of your own will but because it is through this that your god [will be] praised.”
They said, “Master, you are [“¦] the son of our god.”
Jesus said to them, “How do you know me? Truly [I] say to you, no generation of the
people that are among you will know me.”
THE DISCIPLES BECOME ANGRY
When his disciples heard this, they started getting angry and infuriated and began
blaspheming against him in their hearts.
When Jesus observed their lack of [understanding, he said] to them, “Why has this
agitation led you to anger? Your god who is within you and [“¦] [35] have provoked you
to anger [within] your souls. [Let] any one of you who is [strong enough] among human
beings bring out the perfect human and stand before my face.”
They all said, “We have the strength.”
But their spirits did not dare to stand before [him], except for Judas Iscariot. He was
able to stand before him, but he could not look him in the eyes, and he turned his face
away.
Judas [said] to him, “I know who you are and where you have come from. You are
from the immortal realm of Barbelo. And I am not worthy to utter the name of the one
who has sent you.”
JESUS SPEAKS TO JUDAS PRIVATELY
Knowing that Judas was reflecting upon something that was exalted, Jesus said to him,
“Step away from the others and I shall tell you the mysteries of the kingdom. It is
possible for you to reach it, but you will grieve a great deal. [36] For someone else will
replace you, in order that the twelve [disciples] may again come to completion with their
god.”
Judas said to him, “When will you tell me these things, and [when] will the great day
of light dawn for the generation?”
But when he said this, Jesus left him.
SCENE 2: Jesus appears to the disciples again
The next morning, after this happened, Jesus [appeared] to his disciples again.
They said to him, “Master, where did you go and what did you do when you left us?”
Jesus said to them, “I went to another great and holy generation.”
His disciples said to him, “Lord, what is the great generation that is superior to us and
holier than us, that is not now in these realms?”
When Jesus heard this, he laughed and said to them, “Why are you thinking in your
hearts about the strong and holy generation? [37] Truly [I] say to you, no one born [of]
this aeon will see that [generation], and no host of angels of the stars will rule over that
generation, and no person of mortal birth can associate with it, because that generation
does not come from [“¦] which has become [“¦]. The generation of people among [you]
is from the generation of humanity [“¦] power, which [“¦ the] other powers [“¦] by
[which] you rule.”
When [his] disciples heard this, they each were troubled in spirit. They could not say a
word.
Another day Jesus came up to [them]. They said to [him], “Master, we have seen you
in a [vision], for we have had great [dreams “¦] night [“¦].”
[He said], “Why have [you “¦ when]
have gone into hiding?” [38]
THE DISCIPLES SEE THE TEMPLE AND DISCUSS IT
They [said, “We have seen] a great [house with a large] altar [in it, and] twelve
men- they are the priests, we would say- and a name; and a crowd of people is waiting
at that altar, [until] the priests [“¦ and receive] the offerings. [But] we kept waiting.”
[Jesus said], “What are [the priests] like?”
They [said, “Some “¦] two weeks; [some] sacrifice their own children, others their
wives, in praise [and] humility with each other; some sleep with men; some are involved
in [slaughter]; some commit a multitude of sins and deeds of lawlessness. And the men
who stand [before] the altar invoke your [name], [39] and in all the deeds of their
deficiency, the sacrifices are brought to completion [“¦].”
After they said this, they were quiet, for they were troubled.
JESUS OFFERS AN ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE VISION OF THE TEMPLE
Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled? Truly I say to you, all the priests who stand
before that altar invoke my name. Again I say to you, my name has been written on this
[“¦] of the generations of the stars through the human generations. [And they] have
planted trees without fruit, in my name, in a shameful manner.”
Jesus said to them, “Those you have seen receiving the offerings at the altar- that is
who you are. That is the god you serve, and you are those twelve men you have seen. The
cattle you have seen brought for sacrifice are the many people you lead astray [40] before
that altar. [“¦] will stand and make use of my name in this way, and generations of the
pious will remain loyal to him. After hi another man will stand there from [the
fornicators], and another [will] stand there from the slayers of children, and another from
those who sleep with men, and those who abstain, and the rest of the people of pollution
and lawlessness and error, and those who say, -We are like angels’; they are the stars that
bring everything to its conclusion. For to the human generations it has been said, -Look,
God has received your sacrifice from the hands of a priest’- that is, a minister of error.
But it is the Lord, the Lord of the universe, who commands, -On the last day they will be
put to shame.'” [41]
Jesus said [to them], “Stop sac[rificing “¦] which you have [“¦] over the altar, since
they are over your stars and your angels and have already come to their conclusion there.
So let them be [ensnared] before you, and let them go [- about 15 lines missing- ]
generations [“¦]. A baker cannot feed all creation [42] under [heaven]. And [“¦] to them
[“¦] and [“¦] to us and [“¦].
Jesus said to them, “Stop struggling with me. Each of you has his own star, and
every[body- about 17 lines missing- ] [43] in [“¦] who has come [“¦ spring] for the tree
[“¦] of this aeon [“¦] for a time [“¦] but he has come to water God’s paradise, and the
[generation] that will last, because [he] will not defile the [walk of life of] that
generation, but [“¦] for all eternity.”
JUDAS ASKS JESUS ABOUT THAT GENERATION AND HUMAN GENERATIONS
Judas said to [him, “Rabb]i, what kind of fruit does this generation produce?”
Jesus said, “The souls of every human generation will die. When these people,
however, have completed the time of the kingdom and the spirit leaves them, their bodies
will die but their souls will be alive, and they will be taken up.”
Judas said, “And what will the rest of the human generations do?”
Jesus said, “It is impossible [44] to sow seed on [rock] and harvest its fruit. [This] is
also the way [“¦] the [defiled] generation [“¦] and corruptible Sophia [“¦] the hand that
has created mortal people, so that their souls go up to the eternal realms above. [Truly] I
say to you, [“¦] angel [“¦] power will be able to see that [“¦] these to whom [“¦] holy
generations [“¦].”
After Jesus said this, he departed.
SCENE 3: Judas recounts a vision and Jesus responds
Judas said, “Master, as you have listened to all of them, now also listen to me. For I have
seen a great vision.”
When Jesus heard this, he laughed and said to him, “You thirteenth spirit, why do you
try so hard? But speak up, and I shall bear with you.”
Judas said to him, “In the vision I saw myself as the twelve disciples were stoning me
and [45] persecuting [me severely]. And I also came to the place where [“¦] after you. I
saw [a house “¦], and my eyes could not [comprehend] its size. Great people were
surrounding it, and that house a roof of greenery, and in the middle of the house
was [a crowd- two lines missing- ], saying, -Master, take me in along with these
people.'”
[Jesus] answered and said, “Judas, your star has led you astray.” He continued, “No
person of mortal birth is worthy to enter the house you have seen, for that place is
reserved for the holy. Neither the sun nor the moon will rule there, nor the day, but the
holy will abide there always, in the eternal realm with the holy angels. Look, I have
explained to you the mysteries of the kingdom [46] and I have taught you about the error
of the stars; and [“¦] send it [“¦] on the twelve aeons.”
JUDAS ASKS ABOUT HIS OWN FATE
Judas said, “Master, could it be that my seed is under the control of the rulers?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Come, that I [- two lines missing- ], but that you
will grieve much when you see the kingdom and all its generation.”
When he heard this, Judas said to him, “What good is it that I have received it? For
you have set me apart for that generation.”
Jesus answered and said, “You will become the thirteenth, and you will be cursed by
the other generations- and you will come to rule over them. In the last days they will
curse your ascent [47] to the holy [generation].”
JESUS TEACHES JUDAS ABOUT COSMOLOGY: THE SPIRIT AND THE SELF-GENERATED
Jesus said, “[Come], that I may teach you about [secrets] no person [has] ever seen. For
there exists a great and boundless realm, whose extent no generation of angels has seen,
[in which] there is [a] great invisible [Spirit],
which no eye of an angel has ever seen,
no thought of the heart has ever comprehended,
and it was never called by any name.
“And a luminous cloud appeared there. He said, -Let an angel come into being as my
attendant.’
“A great angel, the enlightened divine Self-Generated, emerged from the cloud.
Because of him, four other angels came into being from another cloud, and they became
attendants for the angelic Self-Generated. The Self-Generated said, [48] -Let [“¦] come
into being [“¦],’ and it came into being [“¦]. And he [created] the first luminary to reign
over him. He said, -Let angels come into being to serve [him],’ and myriads without
number came into being. He said, -[Let] an enlightened aeon come into being,’ and he
came into being. He created the second luminary [to] reign over him, together with
myriads of angels without number, to offer service. That is how he created the rest of the
enlightened aeons. He made them reign over them, and he created for them myriads of
angels without number, to assist them.
ADAMAS AND THE LUMINARIES
“Adamas was in the first luminous cloud that no angel has ever seen among all those
called -God.’ He [49] [“¦] that [“¦] the image [“¦] and after the likeness of [this] angel.
He made the incorruptible [generation] of Seth appear [“¦] the twelve [“¦] the twentyfour
[“¦]. He made seventy-two luminaries appear in the incorruptible generation, in
accordance with the will of the Spirit. The seventy-two luminaries themselves made three
hundred sixty luminaries appear in the incorruptible generation, in accordance with the
will of the Spirit, that their number should be five for each.
“The twelve aeons of the twelve luminaries constitute their father, with six heavens for
each aeon, so that there are seventy-two heavens for the seventy-two luminaries, and for
each [50] [of them five] firmaments, [for a total of] three hundred sixty [firmaments “¦].
They were given authority and a [great] host of angels [without number], for glory and
adoration, [and after that also] virgin spirits, for glory and [adoration] of all the aeons and
the heavens and their firmaments.
THE COSMOS, CHAOS, AND THE UNDERWORLD
“The multitude of those immortals is called the cosmos- that is, perdition- by the
Father and the seventy-two luminaries who are with the Self-Generated and his seventytwo
aeons. In him the first human appeared with his incorruptible powers. And the aeon
that appeared with his generation, the aeon in whom are the cloud of knowledge and the
angel, is called [51] El. [“¦] aeon [“¦] after that [“¦] said, -Let twelve angels come into
being [to] rule over chaos and the [underworld].’ And look, from the cloud there
appeared an [angel] whose face flashed with fire and whose appearance was defiled with
blood. His name was Nebro, which means -rebel’; others call him Yaldabaoth. Another
angel, Saklas, also came from the cloud. So Nebro created six angels- as well as
Saklas- to be assistants, and these produced twelve angels in the heavens, with each one
receiving a portion in the heavens.
THE RULERS AND ANGELS
“The twelve rulers spoke with the twelve angels: -Let each of you [52] [“¦] and let them
[“¦] generation [- one line lost- ] angels’:
The first is [S]eth, who is called Christ.
The [second] is Harmathoth, who is [“¦].
The [third] is Galila.
The fourth is Yobel.
The fifth [is] Adonaios.
These are the five who ruled over the underworld, and first of all over chaos.
THE CREATION OF HUMANITY
“Then Saklas said to his angels, -Let us create a human being after the likeness and after
the image.’ They fashioned Adam and his wife Eve, who is called, in the cloud, Zoe. For
by this name all the generations seek the man, and each of them calls the woman by these
names. Now, Sakla did not [53] com[mand “¦] except [“¦] the gene[rations “¦] this [“¦].
And the [ruler] said to Adam, -You shall live long, with your children.'”
JUDAS ASKS ABOUT THE DESTINY OF ADAM AND HUMANITY
Judas said to Jesus, “[What] is the long duration of time that the human being will live?”
Jesus said, “Why are you wondering about this, that Adam, with his generation, has
lived his span of life in the place where he has received his kingdom, with longevity with
his ruler?”
Judas said to Jesus, “Does the human spirit die?”
Jesus said, “This is why God ordered Michael to give the spirits of people to them as a
loan, so that they might offer service, but the Great One ordered Gabriel to grant spirits to
the great generation with no ruler over it- that is, the spirit and the soul. Therefore, the
[rest] of the souls [54] [- one line missing- ].
JESUS DISCUSSES THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WICKED WITH JUDAS AND OTHERS
“[“¦] light [- nearly two lines missing- ] around [“¦] let [“¦] spirit [that is] within you
dwell in this [flesh] among the generations of angels. But God caused knowledge to be
[given] to Adam and those with him, so that the kings of chaos and the underworld might
not lord it over them.”
Judas said to Jesus, “So what will those generations do?”
Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, for all of them the stars bring matters to completion.
When Saklas completes the span of time assigned for him, their first star will appear with
the generations, and they will finish what they said they would do. Then they will
fornicate in my name and slay their children [55] and they will [“¦] and [- about six and
a half lines missing- ] my name, and he will [“¦] your star over the [thir]teenth aeon.”
After that Jesus [laughed].
[Judas said], “Master, [why are you laughing at us]?”
[Jesus] answered [and said], “I am not laughing [at you] but at the error of the stars,
because these six stars wander about with these five combatants, and they all will be
destroyed along with their creatures.”
JESUS SPEAKS OF THOSE WHO ARE BAPTIZED, AND JUDAS’S BETRAYAL
Judas said to Jesus, “Look, what will those who have been baptized in your name do?”
Jesus said, “Truly I say [to you], this baptism [56] [“¦] my name [- about nine lines
missing- ] to me. Truly [I] say to you, Judas, [those who] offer sacrifices to Saklas [“¦]
God [- three lines missing- ] everything that is evil.
“But you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me.
Already your horn has been raised,
your wrath has been kindled,
your star has shown brightly,
and your heart has [“¦]. [57]
“Truly [“¦] your last [“¦] become [- about two and a half lines missing- ], grieve
[- about two lines missing- ] the ruler, since he will be destroyed. And then the image
of the great generation of Adam will be exalted, for prior to heaven, earth, and the angels,
that generation, which is from the eternal realms, exists. Look, you have been told
everything. Lift up your eyes and look at the cloud and the light within it and the stars
surrounding it. The star that leads the way is your star.”
Judas lifted up his eyes and saw the luminous cloud, and he entered it. Those standing
on the ground heard a voice coming from the cloud, saying, [58] [“¦] great generation
[“¦] “¦ image [“¦] [- about five lines missing- ].
CONCLUSION: JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS
[“¦] Their high priests murmured because [he] had gone into the guest room for his
prayer. But some scribes were there watching carefully in order to arrest him during the
prayer, for they were afraid of the people, since he was regarded by all as a prophet.
They approached Judas and said to him, “What are you doing here? You are Jesus’
disciple.”
Judas answered them as they wished. And he received some money and handed him over
to them.
THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS

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