Apocrypha (Deuterocanonical books: Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, Maccabees, ...)

Better is the churlishness of a man than a courteous woman, a woman, I say, which bringeth shame and reproach.

I will now remember the works of the Lord, and declare the things that I have seen: In the words of the Lord are his works.

The sun that giveth light looketh upon all things, and the work thereof is full of the glory of the Lord.

The Lord hath not given power to the saints to declare all his marvellous works, which the Almighty Lord firmly settled, that whatsoever is might be established for his glory.

He seeketh out the deep, and the heart, and considereth their crafty devices: for the Lord knoweth all that may be known, and he beholdeth the signs of the world.

He declareth the things that are past, and for to come, and revealeth the steps of hidden things.

No thought escapeth him, neither any word is hidden from him.

He hath garnished the excellent works of his wisdom, and he is from everlasting to everlasting: unto him may nothing be added, neither can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any counsellor.

Oh how desirable are all his works! and that a man may see even to a spark.

All these things live and remain for ever for all uses, and they are all obedient.

All things are double one against another: and he hath made nothing imperfect.

One thing establisheth the good or another: and who shall be filled with beholding his glory?

The pride of the height, the clear firmament, the beauty of heaven, with his glorious shew;

The sun when it appeareth, declaring at his rising a marvellous instrument, the work of the most High:

At noon it parcheth the country, and who can abide the burning heat thereof?

A man blowing a furnace is in works of heat, but the sun burneth the mountains three times more; breathing out fiery vapours, and sending forth bright beams, it dimmeth the eyes.

Great is the Lord that made it; and at his commandment runneth hastily.

He made the moon also to serve in her season for a declaration of times, and a sign of the world.

From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreaseth in her perfection.

The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her changing, being an instrument of the armies above, shining in the firmament of heaven;

The beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament giving light in the highest places of the Lord.

At the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in their order, and never faint in their watches.

Look upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it; very beautiful it is in the brightness thereof.

It compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and the hands of the most High have bended it.

By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.

Through this the treasures are opened: and clouds fly forth as fowls.

By his great power he maketh the clouds firm, and the hailstones are broken small.

At his sight the mountains are shaken, and at his will the south wind bloweth.

The noise of the thunder maketh the earth to tremble: so doth the northern storm and the whirlwind: as birds flying he scattereth the snow, and the falling down thereof is as the lighting of grasshoppers:

The eye marvelleth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the raining of it.

The hoarfrost also as salt he poureth on the earth, and being congealed, it lieth on the top of sharp stakes.

When the cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into ice, it abideth upon every gathering together of water, and clotheth the water as with a breastplate.

It devoureth the mountains, and burneth the wilderness, and consumeth the grass as fire.

A present remedy of all is a mist coming speedily, a dew coming after heat refresheth.

By his counsel he appeaseth the deep, and planteth islands therein.

They that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof; and when we hear it with our ears, we marvel thereat.

For therein be strange and wondrous works, variety of all kinds of beasts and whales created.

By him the end of them hath prosperous success, and by his word all things consist.

We may speak much, and yet come short: wherefore in sum, he is all.

How shall we be able to magnify him? for he is great above all his works.

The Lord is terrible and very great, and marvellous is his power.

When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; for even yet will he far exceed: and when ye exalt him, put forth all your strength, and be not weary; for ye can never go far enough.

Who hath seen him, that he might tell us? and who can magnify him as he is?

There are yet hid greater things than these be, for we have seen but a few of his works.

For the Lord hath made all things; and to the godly hath he given wisdom.

Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.

The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning.

Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:

Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions:

Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing:

Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations:

All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.

There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported.

And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them.

But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.

With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.

Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.

Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.

Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.

The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.

Enoch pleased the Lord, and was translated, being an example of repentance to all generations.

Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he was taken in exchange [for the world;] therefore was he left as a remnant unto the earth, when the flood came.

An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the flood.

Abraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there none like unto him;

Who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him: he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was proved, he was found faithful.

Therefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land.

With Isaac did he establish likewise [for Abraham his father’s sake] the blessing of all men, and the covenant, And made it rest upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part them.

And he brought out of him a merciful man, which found favour in the sight of all flesh, even Moses, beloved of God and men, whose memorial is blessed.

He made him like to the glorious saints, and magnified him, so that his enemies stood in fear of him.

By his words he caused the wonders to cease, and he made him glorious in the sight of kings, and gave him a commandment for his people, and shewed him part of his glory.

He sanctified him in his faithfuless and meekness, and chose him out of all men.

He made him to hear his voice, and brought him into the dark cloud, and gave him commandments before his face, even the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob his covenants, and Israel his judgments.

He exalted Aaron, an holy man like unto him, even his brother, of the tribe of Levi.

An everlasting covenant he made with him and gave him the priesthood among the people; he beautified him with comely ornaments, and clothed him with a robe of glory.

He put upon him perfect glory; and strengthened him with rich garments, with breeches, with a long robe, and the ephod.

And he compassed him with pomegranates, and with many golden bells round about, that as he went there might be a sound, and a noise made that might be heard in the temple, for a memorial to the children of his people;

With an holy garment, with gold, and blue silk, and purple, the work of the embroiderer, with a breastplate of judgment, and with Urim and Thummim;

With twisted scarlet, the work of the cunning workman, with precious stones graven like seals, and set in gold, the work of the jeweller, with a writing engraved for a memorial, after the number of the tribes of Israel.

He set a crown of gold upon the mitre, wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, the desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful.

Before him there were none such, neither did ever any stranger put them on, but only his children and his children’s children perpetually.

Their sacrifices shall be wholly consumed every day twice continually.

Moses consecrated him, and anointed him with holy oil: this was appointed unto him by an everlasting covenant, and to his seed, so long as the heavens should remain, that they should minister unto him, and execute the office of the priesthood, and bless the people in his name.

He chose him out of all men living to offer sacrifices to the Lord, incense, and a sweet savour, for a memorial, to make reconciliation for his people.

He gave unto him his commandments, and authority in the statutes of judgments, that he should teach Jacob the testimonies, and inform Israel in his laws.

Strangers conspired together against him, and maligned him in the wilderness, even the men that were of Dathan’s and Abiron’s side, and the congregation of Core, with fury and wrath.

This the Lord saw, and it displeased him, and in his wrathful indignation were they consumed: he did wonders upon them, to consume them with the fiery flame.

But he made Aaron more honourable, and gave him an heritage, and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase; especially he prepared bread in abundance:

For they eat of the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave unto him and his seed.

Howbeit in the land of the people he had no inheritance, neither had he any portion among the people: for the Lord himself is his portion and inheritance.

The third in glory is Phinees the son of Eleazar, because he had zeal in the fear of the Lord, and stood up with good courage of heart: when the people were turned back, and made reconciliation for Israel.

Therefore was there a covenant of peace made with him, that he should be the chief of the sanctuary and of his people, and that he and his posterity should have the dignity of the priesthood for ever:

According to the covenant made with David son of Jesse, of the tribe of Juda, that the inheritance of the king should be to his posterity alone: so the inheritance of Aaron should also be unto his seed.

God give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in righteousness, that their good things be not abolished, and that their glory may endure for ever.

Jesus the son a Nave was valiant in the wars, and was the successor of Moses in prophecies, who according to his name was made great for the saving of the elect of God, and taking vengeance of the enemies that rose up against them, that he might set Israel in their inheritance.

How great glory gat he, when he did lift up his hands, and stretched out his sword against the cities!

Who before him so stood to it? for the Lord himself brought his enemies unto him.

Did not the sun go back by his means? and was not one day as long as two?

He called upon the most high Lord, when the enemies pressed upon him on every side; and the great Lord heard him.

And with hailstones of mighty power he made the battle to fall violently upon the nations, and in the descent [of Beth-horon] he destroyed them that resisted, that the nations might know all their strength, because he fought in the sight of the Lord, and he followed the Mighty One.

In the time of Moses also he did a work of mercy, he and Caleb the son of Jephunne, in that they withstood the congregation, and withheld the people from sin, and appeased the wicked murmuring.