But her husband, Joseph, was an upright man and did not wish to disgrace her, and he decided to break off the engagement privately.

He will not break off a bent reed, And he will not put out a smoldering wick, Until he carries his judgment to success.

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you who were only a wild olive shoot have been grafted in, in place of them, and made to share the richness of the olive's root,

"But," you will say, "branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in!"

That is true; but it was for their want of faith that they were broken off, and it is through your faith that you stand where you do. You ought not to feel proud; you ought to be afraid,