SABBATH BREAKING.

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the nobles of Judah, and said to them: What evil thing is this that ye do, profaning the sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? Yet ye would bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. And it came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut; and I commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath. Moreover, I set some of my servants over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I warned them, and said to them: Why lodge ye before the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth they came no more on the sabbath. And I commanded the Levites to purify themselves, and come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day.

Now when they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people, it was found written therein, that Ammonites and Moabites should not enter into the congregation of God forever; because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them; howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. And when they heard the law, they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel. But in these days also I saw Jews that had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab ; whose children could ; not speak in the Jew's language, but spake half in the speech of Ashdod, or according to the language of this or that people. And I rebuked them, and cursed them, and smote some of them, and plucked out their hair, and adjured them by God, saying: Give not your daughters

to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves. Was it not by this means that Solomon king of Israel sinned? For among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and whom God made king over all Israel. Nevertheless even him did strange women cause to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying strange women?

And one of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib, the high-priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; and I chased him from me. And I cleansed the priests and the Levites from all strangers, and appointed their offices, to each his work. Moreover I provided for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

CHAPTER XII

PSALMS, cxix.

THE PRAISE OF THE LAW.

(An acrostic containing all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, each repeated eight times. Each verse contains one or more titles of the

law.)

Aleph.

ALL hail to the blameless of way, who walk in Jehovah's

law.

All hail to them that keep His testimonies, that seek Him with all their heart;

Aye, who have not wrought evil, who have walked in His

ways.

Above all to be kept hast Thou commanded Thy behests.

Ah, that my ways were set to keep Thy statutes !

Ashamed shall I never be, if I respect all Thy commandments.

As I learn Thy righteous customs, I praise Thee with upright heart.

Altogether forsake me not, who keep Thy statutes!

Beth.

By what shall a youth cleanse his path? By heeding Thy word.

By my seeking Thee with all my heart, let me not stray from Thy commandments.

By my heart I hid Thy sayings, lest I should sin against Thee.

Blessed art Thou, Jehovah! Teach me Thy statutes. By my lips I recounted all the judgments of Thy mouth. By way of Thy testimonies I found joy, as much as in all riches.

By Thy behests I make my meditation, and Thy paths I consider.

By Thy statutes I find delight; Thy word I forget not.

Gimel.

Care for Thy servant, that I may live; so will I keep Thy word.

Clear mine eyes, that I may behold wonders out of Thy law.

Conceal not Thy commandments from me, for a stranger on earth am I.

Crushed with longing is my soul for Thy judgments all the time.

Confounded hast Thou the proud; cursed are they that stray from Thy commandments.

Cast off from me reproach and shame, for I have kept Thy testimonies.

Conspired have princes against me; Thy servant museth on Thy statutes.

Counsellors unto me, my delight also, are Thy testimonies.

Daleth.

Down in the dust lieth my soul; quicken me after Thy

word.

Declaring my ways, Thou answeredst me; teach me Thy statutes.

AN ALPHABETICAL ACROSTIC.

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Direct me in the way of Thy behests, so will I muse on

Thy word.

Droppeth my soul tears from heaviness, raise me up after

Thy word.

Divert from me the way of falsehood, and graciously grant me Thy law.

Deeds of faithfulness I have chosen, I set before me Thy judgments.

Do not put me to shame, Jehovah, I have cleaved to Thy testimonies.

Dost Thou enlarge my heart, so will I run in the way of Thy commandments.

He.

Educate me in the way of Thy statutes, Jehovah, so will I keep it to the last.

Enlighten me, so will I keep Thy law, and observe it with all my heart.

Enable me to walk in the track of Thy commandments, for therein do I delight.

Eager for Thy testimonies make my heart, and not for gain.

Ever turn away mine eyes from sight of evil; quicken me in Thy way.

Establish unto Thy servant Thy saying, which leadeth unto Thy fear.

Ever turn away my reproach that I dread, for Thy judgments are good.

Exceedingly I long for Thy behests; by Thy righteousness quicken me.

Wau.

For let Thy love come unto me, Jehovah, Thy salvation according to Thy saying.