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Deuteronomy
15
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1 ¶At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. 2
And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth
ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it
of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S
release. 3 Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which
is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release; 4 Save when
there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless
thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance
to possess it: 5 Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of
the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which
I command thee this day. 6 For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as
he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou
shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they
shall not reign over thee. 7 If there be among you a poor man of
one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the
LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor
shut thine hand from thy poor brother: 8 But thou shalt open thine
hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his
need, in that which he wanteth. 9 Beware that there be not a thought
in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release,
is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and
thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and
it be sin unto thee. 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart
shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for
this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and
in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. 11 For the poor shall
never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou
shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to
thy needy, in thy land.
12 ¶And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold
unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou
shalt let him go free from thee. 13 And when thou sendest him out
free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: 14 Thou shalt
furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and
out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed
thee thou shalt give unto him. 15 And thou shalt remember that thou
wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed
thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day. 16 And it shall
be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he
loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; 17 Then
thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door,
and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant
thou shalt do likewise. 18 It shall not seem hard unto thee, when
thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double
hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the LORD thy
God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.
19 ¶All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock
thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work
with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy
sheep. 20 Thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year
in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household.
21 And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind,
or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD
thy God. 22 Thou shalt eat it within thy gates: the unclean and
the clean person shall eat it alike, as the roebuck, and as the
hart. 23 Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour
it upon the ground as water.
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Ecclesiastes
7
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1 ¶A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of
death than the day of one's birth. 2 It is better to go to the house
of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the
end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow
is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the
heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of
mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It
is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear
the song of fools. 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,
so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
7 ¶Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth
the heart. 8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof:
and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the
bosom of fools. 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former
days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning
this.
11 ¶Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit
to them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money
is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth
life to them that have it. 13 Consider the work of God: for who
can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14 In the day
of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God
also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man
should find nothing after him. 15 All things have I seen in the
days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness,
and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why
shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17 Be not over much wicked, neither
be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18 It is
good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this
withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth
of them all. 19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty
men which are in the city. 20 For there is not a just man upon earth,
that doeth good, and sinneth not. 21 Also take no heed unto all
words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: 22
For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise
hast cursed others.
23 ¶All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but
it was far from me. 24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep,
who can find it out? 25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search,
and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the
wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: 26 And I find
more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets,
and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her;
but the sinner shall be taken by her. 27 Behold, this have I found,
saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand
have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. 29 Lo,
this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they
have sought out many inventions.
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Acts
5
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1 ¶But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold
a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being
privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles'
feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart
to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of
the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after
it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived
this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto
God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the
ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and
buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when
his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered
unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she
said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that
ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold,
the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door,
and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his
feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found
her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11
And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard
these things.
12 ¶And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders
wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in
Solomon's porch. 13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to
them: but the people magnified them. 14 And believers were the more
added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15 Insomuch
that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them
on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing
by might overshadow some of them. 16 There came also a multitude
out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks,
and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed
every one.
17 ¶Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him,
(which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common
prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison
doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak
in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21 And when
they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning,
and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him,
and called the council together, and all the senate of the children
of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when
the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned,
and told, 23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety,
and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had
opened, we found no man within. 24 Now when the high priest and
the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things,
they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 25 Then came one
and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are
standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 ¶Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without
violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been
stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before
the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not
we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and,
behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend
to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles
answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The
God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a
tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince
and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness
of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is
also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel
to slay them. 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee,
named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all
the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves
what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36 For before these
days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a
number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain;
and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing,
and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all,
even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 38 And now I say unto
you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel
or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be
of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight
against God. 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called
the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not
speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed
from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted
worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple,
and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
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Acts
6
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1 ¶And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied,
there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because
their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the
twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said,
It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve
tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of
honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint
over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to
prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased
the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith
and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and
Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom
they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid
their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number
of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company
of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 ¶And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles
among the people. 9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which
is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,
and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And
they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which
he spake. 11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him
speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12 And they
stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came
upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13 And
set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak
blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 14 For we
have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this
place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. 15
And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw
his face as it had been the face of an angel.
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