INTRODUCTION Dogs in the Vineyard cries out for fiery language and powerful words – words of prophecy and damnation. Where better to find this language than in the parables and proverbs of the Old Testament? By cherry-picking the best biblical commentary on a variety of topics of interest to your Dogs, I hope to encourage better, more exciting roleplaying. You need never be at a loss for words, whether solemnizing a wedding or banishing a demon to hell. The following biblical quotes were taken from various on-line sources. I wouldn’t bet the farm on their accuracy. I’ve taken the liberty of changing various references to God and Christ to the King of Life. My intention is not to mock scripture; it is to provide a useful companion to a cool roleplaying game. If my efforts offend you, you are taking them too seriously. Jason Morningstar Chapel Hill, North Carolina October 18, 2004 AUTHORITY For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood, Fear God. Honor the king. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Let all things be done decently and in order. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. CHILDREN Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Lo, children are an heritage of the King of Life: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, I was shapened in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. DEATH AND SORROW In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the face the heart is made better. The heart of the wise in in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none: for salvation, but it is far off from us. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto the King of Life who gave it. For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. For out allotted time is the passing of a shadow, and there is no return from our death, because it is sealed up and no one turns back. And in that day did the King of Life, Lord of all, call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die. DEMONS Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversaries are demons, as roaring lions they walketh about, seeking whom they may devour. And they beseeched The King of Life, and came to see him that was possessed with a demon, and he had was placid, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. How are thou fallen from heaven, O demons! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Their confidence shall be rooted out of thier tabernacle, and it shall bring them to the king of terrors. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely. DREAMS And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O King of Life, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Who so regardeth dreams is like him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind. DRINK AND GLUTTONY Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Be not among wine-drinkers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. EVIL Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist evil, and evil will flee from you. Whoever rewards evil for good, evil will not depart from their house. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; they put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. The waters wear the stones: thou washeth away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. FAITH For we walk by faith, not by sight. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment? Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the King of Life, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the demons shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. FRIENDSHIP Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him: a new friend is as new wine; when it is old, thou shalt drink it with pleasure. A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Iron sharpen iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. A faithful friend is a strong defense: and he that hath found one hath found a treasure. Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him: a new friend is as new wine; when it is old, thou shalt drink it with pleasure. GREED A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Wealth maketh many friends. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the presence of the King of Life. A gift blinds the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea four things say not, It is enough: The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. A faithful man shall abound with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. HOPE For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear: Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. HOSPITALITY Bear one another's burdens. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the King of Life; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. IDLENESS Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. The sluggard does not plow after the season, so he begs during the harvest and has nothing. If any would not work, neither shall he eat. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. JEALOUSY Jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire. Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm; for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave. The ear of jealousy heareth all things. JUDGMENT AND PUNISHMENT Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. Open rebuke is better than secret love. As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. For I verily, absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, . . . They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, and tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. They that sow in tears shall reap joy. The way of transgressors is hard. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. I am eyes to the blind, and feet am I to the lame. And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. It is better that ten guilty escape than one innocent suffer. THE KING OF LIFE Who covereth thyself with light as a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits: his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. The King of Life on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. If our heavenly King be for us who can be against us? The King of Life is good unto them who wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. The King of Life is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I cause the widow's heart to sing for joy. Now the King of Life is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the King of Life is, there is liberty. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Then The King of Life said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the King of Life, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the King of Life loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. KNOWLEDGE And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end: and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge shall every room be filled with precious and pleasant riches. In much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Take good hold of instruction and don't let her go, keep her for she is your life. Be not curious in unnecessary matters: for more things are shrewd unto thee than men understand. Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. And the King of Life asketh, who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? LIES AND GOSSIP Lying lips are abomination to the King of Life. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love: but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: I said in my haste, All men are liars. LOVE AND JOY The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, while the heart of the fool is in the house of entertainment. Who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor with the King of Life. The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. A man's heart deviseth his way: but the King of Life directeth his steps. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. LUST Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. MARRIAGE And the King of Life said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a companion. And Man said, This is the bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: but a prudent wife is from the King of Life. Ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour onto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. MEN AND WOMEN Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. A good name is better than precious ointment. NATURE And the King of Life said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of their enemies, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. And the King of Life said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. PEACE And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Seek peace, and pursue it. Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. PRAYER As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer; preserve my life from fear of the enemy. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. And may the peace of the King of Life, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in all things. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our King of Life; Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto The King of Life the author and finisher of our faith; as is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the King of Life of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? King of Life, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Bless the King of Life, O my soul. O King of Life my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretches out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, King of Life, only makest me dwell in safety. My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. PREACHING And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed: And he cried, A lion: My King of Life, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever, is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. But the King of Life hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. Finally, by ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. The King of Life found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it soon cut off, and we fly away. And The King of Life saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the His faithful servant hath not where to lay his head. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the King of Life of hosts hath spoken it. As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape, give a good smell. PRIDE AND ARROGANCE Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith; and he that hath fellowship with a proud man shall be like unto him. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. RIGHTEOUSNESS But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home: for that is good and acceptable before God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the Law. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again. What doth it profit a man if he gains the who world and loses his own soul? Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just. The King of Life is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. SECRETS For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. The secret things belong unto the King of Life our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. SIN The way of sinners is made plain with stones, but at the end thereof is the pit of hell. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the cheif ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the King of Life, and be sure your sin will find you out. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Either make the tree food, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward. STRENGTH AND COURAGE But straightway The King of Life spake upto them saying, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy the King of Life. But be you strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work. For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again. Thy shoes shall be of iron and brass: and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of the King may rest upon me. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which I commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. TEMPTATION My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers, then fly from evil. WEALTH AND CHARITY In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider. Hard work brings prosperity; playing around brings poverty. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me. The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather or known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaulteth not itself, is not puffed up. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves. for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. He that has pity on the poor lends to the King of Life. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the King of Life will deliver him in time of trouble. WISDOM A living dog is better than a dead lion. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers there is safety. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged always understand judgment. It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the King of Life hath made even both of them. The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness; and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. The wise weigh their words on a scale with gold. Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss. WRATH Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give a demon refuge. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. A soft answer turneth away wrath. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.