I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother; I went heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

Thou makest us to be rebuked of our neighbours, to be laughed to scorn and had in derision of them that are round about us.

And I said, "O that I had wings like a dove! For then would I flee away, and be at rest.

Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone; my treadings had well nigh slipped.

Yea, I had almost also said even as they do; but lo, then should I have condemned the generation of thy children.

that they also might put their trust in God, and not to forget what he had done, but to keep his commandments.

They forgot what he had done, and the wonderful works that he had showed for them.

He clove the hard rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink thereof, as it had been out of the great depth.

how he had wrought his miracles in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:

so that he forsook the Tabernacle in Shiloh, even the tent that he had pitched among men.

This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he came out of Egypt, and had heard a strange language.

For one day in thy court is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of the ungodly.

God is greatly to be feared in the council of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

If the LORD had not helped me, my soul had almost been put to silence.

In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart, thy comforts have refreshed my soul.

But he had sent a man before them, even Joseph which was sold to be a bond servant,

until the time that his word came, and until the word of the LORD had tried him.

Then sent the king and caused him to be delivered; the prince of the people had let him go.

Then sent he Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen.

For why? He remembered his holy promise which he had made to Abraham his servant.

They forgot God their Savior, which had done so great things in Egypt,

So he said he would have destroyed them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in that gap; to turn away his wrathful indignation, lest he should destroy them.

Their enemies oppressed them, and had them in subjection.

yea, he made all those that had led them away captive, to pity them.

For the love that I had unto them, they take now my contrary part; but I give myself unto prayer.

Let the wickedness of his fathers be had in remembrance in the sight of LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be done away.

His work is worthy to be praised and had in honour, and his righteousness endureth forever.

The merciful and gracious LORD hath so done his marvelous works, that they ought to be had in remembrance.

For he shall never be moved, and the righteous shall be had in an everlasting remembrance.

The proud have had me exceedingly in derision; yet have I not shrinked from thy law.

{A song of the stairs} If the LORD himself had not been on our side - now may Israel say -

If the LORD himself had not been on our side, when men rose up against us,

they had swallowed us up alive, when they were so wrathfully displeased at us.

Yea, the waters had drowned us, the stream had gone over our soul.

The deep waters of the proud had gone even unto our soul.

Let the righteous rather smite me friendly, and reprove me: so will I take it as though he had poured oil on my head; it shall not hurt my head. Yea, I will pray yet for their wickedness.

"I had a vow to pay, and this day I perform it.

"The LORD himself had me in possession in the beginning of his ways, before he began his works afore time.

I communed with mine own heart, saying, "Lo, I am come to a great estate, and have gotten more wisdom, than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem." Yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge,

I bought servants and maidens, and had a great household. As for cattle and sheep, I had more substance of them than all they that were before me in Jerusalem.

And look whatsoever mine eyes desired, I let them have it: and wherein soever my heart delighted, or had any pleasure, I withheld it not from it. Thus my heart rejoiced in all that I did, and this I took for the portion of all my travail.

But when I considered all the works that my hands had wrought, and all the labours that I had taken therein: Lo, all was vanity and vexation of mind, and nothing of any value under the Sun.

For a wise man beareth his eyes about in his head, but the fool goeth in the darkness. I perceived also that they both had one end.

Yea, I was weary of all my labour, which I had taken under the Sun, because I should be fain to leave them unto another man, that cometh after me.

For I have oft seen the ungodly brought to their graves, and fallen down from the high and glorious place; insomuch that they were forgotten in the city where they were had in so high and great reputation. This is also a vain thing.

Yet is there a vanity upon earth: there be just men, unto whom it happeneth, as though they had the works of the ungodly; Again, there be ungodly, with whom it goeth as though they had the works of the righteous. This me think also a vain thing.

So I turned me unto other things under the Sun, and I saw that in running it helpeth not to be swift; in battle it helpeth not to be strong; to feeding it helpeth not to be wise; to riches, it helpeth not to be suttle; to be had in favour, it helpeth not to be cunning: but that all lieth in time and fortune.

And in the city there was found a poor man - but he was wise - which with his wisdom delivered the city: yet was there no body, that had any respect for such a simple man.

Dead flies corrupt sweet ointment and make it to stink. Even so, oft times, he that hath been had in estimation for wisdom and honour is abhorred because of a little foolishness.

Marvel not at me that I am so black: For why? The sun hath shined upon me. My mother's children had evil will at me, they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

Nevertheless when I had opened unto my beloved, he was departed and gone his way. Now like as afore time when he spake, my heart could not longer refrain: Even so now I sought him, but I could not find him: I cried upon him, nevertheless he gave me no answer.

Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; this vineyard delivered he unto the keepers, that every one for the fruit thereof should give him a thousand pieces of silver.

And except the LORD of Hosts had left us a few alive, we should have been as Sodom, and like unto Gomorrah.

But thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they go far beyond the east countries in Sorcerers - who they have as the Philistines had - and in calkers of men's births, whereof they have too many.

Then, then shall man cast away his gods of silver and gold - which he nevertheless had made to honour them - unto moles and bats

What more could have been done for it, that I have not done? Wherefore than hath it given thorns, where I looked to have had grapes of it?

From above flickered the Seraphims, whereof every one had six wings: With twain each covered his face, with twain his feet, and with twain did he fly.

Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me, having a hot coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with the tongs,

After that went I unto the Prophetess, that now had conceived and born a son. Then said the LORD to me, "Give him this name: Mahershalahashbaz.

There is a noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people, a rushing as though the kingdoms of all nations had come together. And the LORD of Hosts mustereth his army to battle.

The people shall take them, and carry them home to their own land. And the house of Israel shall have them in possession for servants and maidens in the land of the LORD. They shall take those prisoners, whose captives they had been afore: and rule those that had oppressed them.

Wherefore my belly rumbled as it had been a lute for Moab's sake, and mine inward members for the brick wall's sake.

which sendeth her message over the sea in ships of reeds upon the water. Get ye hence, ye speedy messengers, to a nation that is scattered abroad and robbed of that they had: a fearful nation from their beginning hitherto; a nation trodden down by little and little, whose land the floods have spoiled.

In that time shall there be a present brought to the LORD of Hosts: even a people that is scattered abroad, and robbed of that they had - that same people which hat been fearful from their beginning hitherto; a nation trodden down by little and little, whose land the floods have spoiled. To the place of the name of the LORD of Hosts: even to the mount Zion.

And when he had waited diligently, he saw two horsemen: the one riding upon an Ass, the other upon a camel.

"Take thy lute," say men to her, "and go about the city, thou unknown wench: make pastime with sweet melody, whereby thou mayest be had in remembrance."

We have been with child, and suffered pain as though we had brought forth wind. For there is no salvation in the earth, neither do the inhabiters of the world submit them selves.

"This shall bring rest, if one refresh the weary, yea this shall bring rest." But they had no will to hear.

Unto this Hezekiah's messengers held their tongues, and answered not one word: for the king had charged them that they should give him none answer.

Now when Rabshakeh returned, he found the king of Assyria laying siege to Libnah; for he had understood that he was departed from Lachish.

Now when Hezekiah had received the letter of the messengers, and read it; he went up into the house of the LORD, and opened the letter before the LORD.

A thanksgiving, which Hezekiah king of Judah wrote, when he had been sick, and was recovered.

At that same time Merodachbaladan, Baladan's son, king of Babylon, sent letters and presents to Hezekiah. For he understood how that he had been sick, and was recovered again.

Who suffered Jacob to be trodden under foot, and Israel to be spoiled? Did not the LORD? Now have we sinned against him, and have had no delight to walk in his ways, neither been obedient unto his law.

Thou hast hitherto had many counsels of them; so let the heaven gazers and the beholders of stars come on now and deliver thee: yea, and let them show when these new things shall come upon thee.

For why would no man receive me, when I came? And when I called, no man gave me answer. Was my hand clean smitten off, that it might not help? Or had I not power to deliver? Lo, at a word I drink up the sea, and of water floods I make dry land: so that for want of water, the fish corrupt and die of thirst.

He was despised and cast out of men's company; and one that had suffered sorrow, and had experience of infirmity. And we were as one that had hid his face from him.

Lo, thou shalt call an unknown people: and a people that had no knowledge of thee, shall run unto thee, because of the LORD thy God, the holy one of Israel which glorifieth thee.

Unto them will I give in my household and within my walls, a better heritage and name than if they had been called sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that shall not perish.

Thou hast had trouble for the multitude of thine own ways, yet saidest thou never, "I will leave off." Thou thinkest to have life of thyself, and therefore thou believest not that thou art sick.

He saw also, that there was no man which had pity thereof, or was grieved at it. And he held him by his own power, and cleaved to his own righteousness.

In their troubles he forsook them not, but the angel that went forth from his presence delivered them. Of very love and kindness that he had unto them, he redeemed them: He hath born them, and carried them up ever since the world began.

Yet remembered he the old time of Moses and his people: How he brought them from the water of the sea, as a shepherd doth with his sheep; how he had given his holy spirit among them;

how he had led Moses by the righthand with his glorious arm; how he had divided the water before them, whereby he gat himself an everlasting name;

Thy people hath had but little of thy Sanctuary in possession, for our enemies have taken it in:

when the LORD had first spoken with him, in the time of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his kingdom;

They thought not in their hearts, 'Where have we left the LORD, that brought us out of the land of Egypt? That led us through the wilderness; through a desert and rough land; through a dry and deadly land; yea a land that no man had gone through, and wherein no man had dwelt?'

And when I had brought you into a pleasant well builded land, that ye might enjoy the fruits and all the commodities of the same: ye went forth and defiled my land, and brought mine heritage to abomination.

Hast thou seen also, when she had done all this, how I said unto her that she should turn again unto me, and yet she is not returned? Judah, that unfaithful sister of hers also saw this:

Namely, that after I had well seen the adultery of the shrinking harlot Israel, I put her away, and gave her a bill of divorcement. For all this, her unfaithful sister Judah was not ashamed, but went back and played the whore also.

but on this condition, that thou know thy great blasphemy: Namely, that thou hast unfaithfully forsaken the LORD thy God, and hast made thyself partaker of strange gods under all green trees, but hast had no will to hear my voice, sayeth the LORD.

I have looked upon the earth, and see, it is waste and void. I looked toward heaven, and it had no shine.

Would God that I had a cottage somewhere far from folk, that I might leave my people, and go from them: for they be all adulterers and a shrinking sort.

They have turned themselves to the blasphemies of their forefathers, which had no lust to hear my word. Even likewise have these also followed strange gods, and worshiped them. The houses of Israel and Judah have broken my covenant, which I made with their fathers.

But I, as a meek lamb, was carried away to be slain: not knowing, that they had devised such a counsel against me saying, "We will destroy his meat with wood, and drive him out of the land of the living: that his name shall never be thought upon."

Then went I to Euphrates, and digged up, and took the breech from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the breech was corrupt, so that it was profitable for nothing.

"Judah shall mourn, men shall not go much more through his gates: the land shall be no more had in reputation, and the cry of Jerusalem shall break out.

I will scatter thee abroad with the fan on every side of the land: I will waste my people and destroy them, for they have had no lust to turn from their own ways.

When I had found thy words, I ate them up greedily: they have made my heart joyful and glad, for I call upon thy name, O LORD God of Hosts.

But it shall be said, 'The LORD liveth, that brought the children of Israel from the North, and from all lands where I had scattered them.' For I will bring them again into the land that I gave unto their fathers.