| Chapter 16 |
1 |
Rejoice not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied: neither be delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with them. --
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2 |
Trust not to their life, and respect not their labours. --
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3 |
For better is one that feareth God, than a thousand ungodly children. --
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4 |
And it is better to die without children, than to leave ungodly children. --
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5 |
By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the tribe of the ungodly shall become desolate. --
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6 |
Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things than these my ear hath heard. --
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7 |
In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an unbelieving nation wrath shall dame out. --
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8 |
The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sine, who were destroyed trusting to their own strength: --
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9 |
And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for the pride of their word. --
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10 |
He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that extolled them- selves in their sine. --
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11 |
So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished: --
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12 |
For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive, and to pour out indignation: --
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13 |
According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man according to his works. --
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14 |
The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off. --
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15 |
All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment. --
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16 |
Say not: I shall be hidden from God. and who shall remember me from on high? --
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17 |
In such a multitude I shall not be known: for what is my soul in such an immense creation? --
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18 |
Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his sight, --
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19 |
The mountains also, and the hills, end the foundations of the earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with trembling. --
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20 |
And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart is understood by him: --
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21 |
And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no eye of man see? --
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22 |
For many of his works are hidden: hut the works of his justice who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the testament is far from some, and the examination of all is in the end. --
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23 |
He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things: and the foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things. --
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24 |
Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart. --
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25 |
And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity of spirit I tell thee the virtues that God hath put upon his works from the beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge. --
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26 |
The works of God are done in judgment from the beginning, and from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their beginnings in their generations. --
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27 |
He beautified their works for ever, they have neither hungered, nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works. --
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28 |
Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbour at any time. --
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29 |
Be not thou incredulous to his word. --
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30 |
After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his goods. --
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31 |
The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the face thereof, and into it they return again. --
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