BOOK THE FIRST How happy the man, who hath not walked in the counsel of the lawless,—and, in the way of sinners, hath not stood, and, in the seat of scoffers, hath not sat;
For this cause, take up the complete armour of God, in order that ye may receive power to withstand in the evil day, and, all things, having accomplished, to stand!
Into their circle, do not thou enter my soul! In their convocation, do not thou join mine honour! For in their anger, they slew brave men, And in their wantonness, they hamstrung oxen.
For, sufficient, is the bygone time—to have wrought out, the will of the nations, having gone on in wanton ways, covetings, wine-drinkings, revellings, drinking-bouts, and impious idolatries:—
And it come to pass, as though it had been too light a thing that he should walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and bowed down to him.
How happy art thou, O Israel! Who is like unto thee, O people victorious in Yahweh? Thy helpful shield, who also is thy majestic sword,—So that thy foes come cringing unto thee, And, thou, upon their heights, dost march along.
But I said unto their children in the desert, In the statutes of your fathers, let it not be that ye walk, And their regulations, let it not be that ye observe,— And with their manufactured gods, let it not be that ye defile yourselves.
Is it seemly in thee, that thou shouldst oppress? that thou shouldst despise the labour of thine own hand, when, upon the counsel of the lawless, thou hast shone?
And Jesus, answering, said to him—Happy, art thou, Simon Bar-yona,—because, flesh and blood, revealed it not unto thee, but my Father who is in the heavens.