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When the time came for Mattathias to die, he
said to his sons: "Arrogance and scorn have now grown strong;
it is a time of disaster and violent anger. Therefore, my sons, be
zealous for the law and give your lives for the covenant of our
fathers. Remember the deeds that our fathers did in their times,
and you shall win great glory and an everlasting name. Was not
Abraham found faithful in trial, and it was reputed to him as
uprightness?" [Taken from 1MACC 2:49-52]
[Mattathias] died in the year one hundred and forty-six,
and was buried in the tombs of his fathers in Modein, and all
Israel mourned him greatly. [Taken from 1MACC 2:70]
When he reached the ascent of Beth-horon, Judas
went out to meet him with a few men. But when they saw the army
coming against them, they said to Judas: "How can we, few as
we are, fight such a mighty host as this? Besides, we are weak
today from fasting." But Judas said: "It is easy for
many to be overcome by a few; in the sight of Heaven there is no
difference between deliverance by many or by few; for victory in
war does not depend upon the size of the army, but on strength
that comes from Heaven. With great presumption and lawlessness
they come against us to destroy us and our wives and children and
to despoil us; but we are fighting for our lives and our laws. He
himself will crush them before us; so do not be afraid of
them." [1MACC 3:16-22]
As Judas was finishing this speech, a detachment
appeared, looking down from the mountain. They saw that their army
had been put to flight and their camp was being burned. The smoke
that could be seen indicated what had happened. When they realized
this, they were terrified; and when they also saw the army of
Judas in the plain ready to attack, they all fled to Philistine
territory. Then Judas went back to plunder the camp, and his men
collected much gold and silver, violet and crimson cloth, and
great treasure. As they returned, they were singing hymns and
glorifying Heaven, "for he is good, for his mercy endures
forever." Thus Israel had a great deliverance that day.
[1MACC 4:19-25]
They found the sanctuary desolate, the altar
desecrated, the gates burnt, weeds growing in the courts as in a
forest or on some mountain, and the priests' chambers demolished.
Then they tore their clothes and made great lamentation; they
sprinkled their heads with ashes and fell with their faces to the
ground. And when the signal was given with trumpets, they cried
out to Heaven. Judas appointed men to attack those in the citadel,
while he purified the sanctuary. [1MACC 4:38-41]
The valiant Judas and his brothers were greatly renowned in all Israel and among all the Gentiles, wherever their name was heard;
and men gathered about them and praised them. [1MACC
5:63-64]
As King Antiochus was traversing the inland
provinces, he heard that in Persia there was a city called
Elymais, famous for its wealth in silver and gold, and that its
temple was very rich, containing gold helmets, breastplates, and
weapons left there by Alexander, son of Philip, king of Macedon,
the first king of the Greeks. He went therefore and tried to
capture and pillage the city. But he could not do so, because his
plan became known to the people of the city who rose up in battle
against him. So he retreated and in great dismay withdrew from
there to return to Babylon. [1MACC 6:1-4]
All who heard the noise of their numbers, the
tramp of their marching, and the clashing of the arms, trembled;
for the army was very great and strong. [1MACC 6:41]
Then the king chose Bacchides, one of the King's
Friends, governor of West-of-Euphrates, a great man in the
kingdom, and faithful to the king. He sent him and the impious
Alcimus, to whom he granted the high priesthood, with orders to
take revenge on the Israelites. They set out and, on arriving in
the land of Judah with a great army, sent messengers who spoke
deceitfully to Judas and his brothers in peaceful terms. But these
paid no attention to their words, seeing that they had come with a
great army. [1MACC 7:8-11]
Bacchides withdrew from Jerusalem and pitched
his camp in Beth-zaith. He had many of the men arrested who
deserted to him, throwing them into the great pit. He handed the
province over to Alcimus, leaving troops to help him, while he
himself returned to the king. Alcimus spared no pains to maintain
his high priesthood, and all those who were disturbing their
people gathered about him. They took possession of the land of
Judah and caused great distress in Israel. [1MACC 7:19-22]
The people rejoiced greatly, and observed that day as a great festival. They decreed that it should be observed every year on the thirteenth of
Adar. And for a short time the land of Judah was quiet. [1MACC
7:48-50]
Jonathan and Simon took their brother Judas and
buried him in the tomb of their fathers at Modein. All Israel
bewailed him in great grief. They mourned for him many days, and
they said, "How the mighty one has fallen, the savior of
Israel!" The other acts of Judas, his battles, the brave
deeds he performed, and his greatness have not been recorded; but
they were very many. [1MACC 9:19-22]
After the death of Judas, the transgressors of the law raised their heads in every part of Israel, and all kinds of evildoers appeared. In those days there was a very great famine, and the country deserted to them.
There had not been such great distress in Israel since the time prophets ceased to appear among the people.
[1MACC 9:23-24,27]
In the year one hundred and fifty-three, in the second month, Alcimus ordered the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary to be torn down, thus destroying the work of the prophets. But he only began to tear it down.
Just at that time he had a stroke, and his work was interrupted; his mouth was closed and he was paralyzed, so that he could no longer utter a word to give orders concerning his house.
Finally he died in great agony. [1MACC 9:54-56]
So Ptolemy with his daughter Cleopatra set out from Egypt and came to Ptolemais in the year one hundred and sixty-two.
There King Alexander met him, and Ptolemy gave him his daughter Cleopatra in marriage. Their wedding was celebrated at Ptolemais with great splendor according to the custom of kings. [1MACC 10:57-58]
On hearing this, Jonathan ordered the siege to
continue. He selected some elders and priests of Israel and
exposed himself to danger by going to the king at Ptolemais. He
brought with him silver, gold apparel, and many other presents,
and found favor with the king. Although some impious men of his
own nation brought charges against him, the king treated him just
as his predecessors had done and showed him great honor in the
presence of all his Friends. [1MACC 11:23-26]
Meanwhile Jonathan sent the request to King Demetrius to withdraw his troops from the citadel of Jerusalem and from the other strongholds, for they were constantly hostile to Israel. Demetrius, in turn, sent this word to Jonathan: "I will not only do this for you and your nation, but I will greatly honor you and your nation when I find the opportunity. Do me the favor, therefore, of sending men to fight for me, because all my troops have revolted."
[1MACC 11:41-43]
As their pursuers saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, they turned back. Thus all these men of Jonathan came safely into the land of Judah. They mourned over Jonathan and his men, and were in great fear, and all Israel fell into deep mourning. All the nations round about sought to destroy them. They said, "Now that they have no leader to help them, let us make war on them and wipe out their memory from among men." [1MACC 12:51-53]
The men in the citadel in Jerusalem were prevented from going out into the country and back for the purchase of food; they suffered greatly from hunger, and many of them died of starvation. They finally cried out to Simon for peace, and he gave them peace. He expelled them from the citadel and cleansed it of impurities. On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the year one hundred and seventy-one, the Jews entered the citadel with shouts of jubilation, waving of palm branches, the music of harps and cymbals and lyres, and the singing of hymns and canticles, because a great enemy of Israel had been destroyed. [1MACC 13:49-51]
After this, Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a
great gold shield weighing a thousand minas, to confirm the
alliance with the Romans. [1MACC 14:24]
"Since there have often been wars in our
country, Simon, son of the priest Mattathias, descendant of
Joarib,
and his brothers have put themselves in danger and resisted the
enemies of their nation, so that their sanctuary and law might be
maintained, and they have thus brought great glory to their
nation." [1MACC 14:29]
Since we have been saved by God from grave dangers, we give him great thanks for having fought on our side against the king; it was he who drove out those who fought against the holy city. [2MACC 1:11-12]
It is God who has saved all his people and has restored to all of them their heritage, the kingdom, the priesthood, and the sacred rites, as he promised through the law. We trust in God, that he will soon have mercy on us and gather us together from everywhere under the heavens to his holy Place, for he has rescued us from great perils and has purified his Place. [2MACC 2:17-18]
While they were imploring the almighty Lord to
keep the deposits safe and secure for those who had placed them in
trust, Heliodorus went on with his plan. But just as he was
approaching the treasury with his bodyguards, the Lord of spirits
who holds all power manifested himself in so striking a way that
those who had been bold enough to follow Heliodorus were
panic-stricken at God's power and fainted away in terror. There
appeared to them a richly caparisoned horse, mounted by a dreadful
rider. Charging furiously, the horse attacked Heliodorus with its
front hoofs. The rider was seen to be wearing golden armor. Then
two other young men, remarkably strong, strikingly beautiful, and
splendidly attired, appeared before him. Standing on each side of
him, they flogged him unceasingly until they had given him
innumerable blows. Suddenly he fell to the ground, enveloped in
great darkness. Men picked him up and laid him on a stretcher. The
man who a moment before had entered that treasury with a great
retinue and his whole bodyguard was carried away helpless, having
clearly experienced the sovereign power of God. [2MACC 3:22-28]
Jason then slaughtered his fellow citizens
without mercy, not realizing that triumph over one's own kindred
was the greatest failure, but imagining that he was winning a
victory over his enemies, not his fellow countrymen. [2MACC 5:6]
Therefore, the Place itself, having shared in
the people's misfortunes, afterward participated in their good
fortune; and what the Almighty had forsaken in his anger was
restored in all its glory, once the great Sovereign became
reconciled. [2MACC 5:20]
Now I beg those who read this book not to be
disheartened by these misfortunes, but to consider that these
chastisements were meant not for the ruin but for the correction
of our nation. It is, in fact, a sign of great kindness to punish
sinners promptly instead of letting them go for long. Thus, in
dealing with other nations, the Lord patiently waits until they
reach the full measure of their sins before he punishes them; but
with us he has decided to deal differently, in order that he may
not have to punish us more severely later, when our sins have
reached their fullness. He never withdraws his mercy from us.
Although he disciplines us with misfortunes, he does not abandon
his own people. [2MACC 6:12-16]
They next brought forward the fifth brother and maltreated him. Looking at the king, he said: "Since you have power among men, mortal though you are, do what you please. But do not think that our nation is forsaken by God. Only wait, and you will see how his great power will torment you and your descendants."
[2MACC 7:15-17]
On completing these exploits, they blessed, with
hymns of grateful praise, the Lord who shows great kindness to
Israel and grants them victory. [2MACC 10:38]
Relying on the strength of their walls and their supply of provisions, the besieged treated Judas and his men with contempt, insulting them and even uttering blasphemies and profanity. But Judas and his men invoked the aid of the great Sovereign of the world, who, in the day of Joshua, overthrew Jericho without battering-ram or siege
machine; then they furiously stormed the ramparts. [2MACC
12:14-15]
Timothy himself fell into the hands of the men
under Dositheus and Sosipater; but with great cunning, he asked
them to spare his life and let him go, because he had in his power
the parents and relatives of many of them, and could make these
suffer. [2MACC 12:24]
However, when Nicanor heard of the valor of Judas and his men, and the great courage with which they fought for their country, he shrank from deciding the issue by bloodshed. So he sent
Posidonius, Theodotus and Mattathias to arrange an agreement. [2MACC
14:18-19]
Nicanor and his men advanced to the sound of trumpets and battle songs. But Judas and his men met the army with supplication and prayers. Fighting with their hands and praying to God with their hearts, they laid low at least thirty-five thousand, and rejoiced
greatly over this manifestation of God's power. [2MACC
15:25-27]
Now when three of Job's friends heard of all the
misfortune that had come upon him, they set out each one from his
own place: Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuh, and Zophar from
Naamath. They met and journeyed together to give him sympathy and
comfort. But when, at a distance, they lifted up their eyes and
did not recognize him, they began to weep aloud; they tore their
cloaks and threw dust upon their heads. Then they sat down upon
the ground with him seven days and seven nights, but none of them
spoke a word to him; for they saw how great was his suffering. [JOB
2:11-13]
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who
has withstood him and remained unscathed? He removes the mountains
before they know it; he overturns them in his anger. He shakes the
earth out of its place, and the pillars beneath it tremble. He
commands the sun, and it rises not; he seals up the stars. He
alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the crests of the
sea. He made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the
constellations of the south; He does great things past finding
out, marvelous things beyond reckoning. [JOB 9:4-10]
He makes nations great and he destroys them; he
spreads peoples abroad and he abandons them. [JOB 12:23]
Even should he contend against me with his great
power, yet, would that he himself might heed me! [JOB 23:6]
Lo, God is great beyond our knowledge; the
number of his years is past searching out. [JOB 36:26]
He does great things beyond our knowing; wonders
past our searching out. [JOB 37:5]
The Almighty! we cannot discover him,
pre-eminent in power and judgment; his great justice owes no one
an accounting. [JOB 37:23]
I know that you can do all things, and that no
purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things
that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I
cannot know. I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye
has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in
dust and ashes. [JOB 42:2-6]
But I can enter your house because of your
great love. I can worship in your holy temple because of my
reverence for you, LORD. [PS 5:8]
You have given me your protecting shield; your
right hand has upheld me; you stooped to make me great. [PS 18:36]
You have given great victories to your king, and
shown kindness to your anointed, to David and his posterity
forever. [PS 18:51]
LORD, the king finds joy in your power; in your
victory how greatly he rejoices! You have granted him his heart's
desire; you did not refuse the prayer of his lips. For you
welcomed him with goodly blessings; you placed on his head a crown
of pure gold. He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of
days forever. Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and
splendor you confer upon him. You make him the pattern of
blessings forever, you gladden him with the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the LORD, stands firm through the love of
the Most High. [PS 21:2-8]
I will offer praise in the great assembly; my
vows I will fulfill before those who fear him. [PS 22:26]
For the sake of your name, LORD, pardon my
guilt, though it is great. [PS 25:11]
How great is your goodness, Lord, stored up
for those who fear you. You display it for those who trust you, in
the sight of all the people. [PS 31:20]
A king is not saved by a mighty army, nor a
warrior delivered by great strength. Useless is the horse for
safety; its great strength, no sure escape. But the LORD'S eyes
are upon the reverent, upon those who hope for his gracious help,
Delivering them from death, keeping them alive in times of famine.
[PS 33:16-19]
Wait a little, and the wicked will be no more; look for them and they will not be there.
But the poor will possess the land, will delight in great prosperity. [PS 37:10-11]
Better the poverty of the just than the great
wealth of the wicked. [PS 37:16]
I announced your deed to a great assembly; I did
not restrain my lips; you, LORD, are my witness. Your deed I did not hide within my heart; your
loyal deliverance I have proclaimed. I made no secret of your
enduring kindness to a great assembly. [PS 40:10-11]
All you peoples, clap your hands; shout to God
with joyful cries. For the LORD, the Most High, inspires awe, the
great king overall the earth, Who made people subject to us,
brought nations under our feet, Who chose a land for our heritage,
the glory of Jacob, the beloved. [Taken from
PS 47:2-5]
Great is the LORD and highly praised in the
city of our God: The holy mountain, fairest of heights, the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, the heights of Zaphon, the city of the great king. [PS
48:2-3]
Do not fear when others become rich, when the wealth of their houses grows great.
When they die they will take nothing with them, their wealth will not follow them down. [PS 49:17-18]
Now God will strike you down, leave you crushed
forever, Pluck you from your tent, uproot you from the land of the
living. The righteous will look on with awe; they will jeer and
say: "That one did not take God as a refuge, but trusted in
great wealth, relied on devious plots." [Taken from PS 52:7-9]
Shout joyfully to God, all you on earth; sing of
his glorious name; give him glorious praise. Say to God: "How
awesome your deeds! Before your great strength your enemies
cringe. All on earth fall in worship before you; they sing of you,
sing of your name!" [Taken from PS 66:2-4]
God will arise for battle; the enemy will be
scattered; those who hate God will flee. The wind will disperse
them like smoke; as wax is melted by fire, so the wicked will
perish before God. Then the just will be glad; they will rejoice
before God; they will celebrate with great joy. [PS
68:2-4]
But I pray to you, LORD, for the time of your
favor. God, in your great kindness answer me with your constant
help. Rescue me from the mire; do not let me sink. Rescue me from
my enemies and from the watery depths. Do not let the floodwaters
overwhelm me, nor the deep swallow me, nor the mouth of the pit
close over me. Answer me, LORD, in your generous love; in your
great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant;
in my distress hasten to answer me. [PS 69:14-18]
Now that I am old and gray, do not forsake me,
God, That I may proclaim your might to all generations yet to
come, Your power and justice, God, to the highest heaven. You have
done great things; O God, who is your equal? [PS 71:18-19]
Renowned in Judah is God, whose name is great
in Israel. [PS 76:2]
At your roar, O God of Jacob, chariots and steeds lay still. So terrible and awesome are you; who can stand before you and your great anger? [PS 76:7-8]
Help us, God our savior, for the glory of your
name. Deliver us, pardon our sins for your name's sake. Why should
the nations say, "Where is their God?" Before our eyes
make clear to the nations that you avenge the blood of your
servants. Let the groans of prisoners come before you; by your
great power free those doomed to death. [PS 79:9-11]
For you are great and do wondrous deeds; and you
alone are God. [PS 86:10]
I will praise you with all my heart, glorify your name forever, Lord my God.
Your love for me is great; you have rescued me from the depths of
Sheol. [PS 86:12-13]
How great are your works, LORD! How profound
your purpose! [PS 92:6]
For great is the LORD and highly to be praised, to be feared above all gods.
For the gods of the nations all do nothing, but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and power go before him; power and grandeur are in his holy place. [PS 96:4-6]
The LORD is king, the peoples tremble; God is enthroned on the cherubim, the earth quakes.
The LORD is great on Zion, exalted above all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name: Holy is God!
[PS 99:1-3]
Bless the LORD, my soul! LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
You are clothed with majesty and glory, robed in light as with a cloak.
You spread out the heavens like a tent; you raised your palace upon the waters.
You make the clouds your chariot; you travel on the wings of the wind.
[PS 104:1-3]
How varied are your works, LORD! In wisdom you have wrought them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Look at the sea, great and wide! It teems with countless beings, living things both large and small. [PS
104:24-25]
Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob lived in the land of Ham. God greatly increased his people, made them too many for their foes. [PS
105:23-24]
Our ancestors in Egypt did not attend to your wonders.
They did not remember your great love; they defied the Most High at the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name's sake to make his power known.
[PS 106:7-8]
At Horeb they fashioned a calf, worshiped a
metal statue. They exchanged their glorious God for the image of a
grass-eating bull. They forgot the God who saved them, who did
great deeds in Egypt, Amazing deeds in the land of Ham, fearsome
deeds at the Red Sea. [PS 106:19-22]
But you, LORD, my God, deal kindly with me for your name's sake; in your great mercy rescue me. For I am sorely in need; my heart is pierced within me.
[PS 109:21-22]
Great are the works of the LORD, to be treasured
for all their delights. [PS 111:2]
Hallelujah! Happy are those who fear the LORD,
who greatly delight in God's commands. [PS 112:1]
The LORD remembers us and will bless us, will bless the house of Israel, will bless the house of Aaron, Will bless those who fear the LORD, small and great alike.
[PS 115:12-13]
I kept faith, even when I said, "I am
greatly afflicted!" [PS 116:10]
Your compassion is great, O LORD; in accord with
your edicts give me life. [PS 119:156]
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, then we thought we were dreaming. Our mouths were filled with laughter; our tongues sang for joy.
Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD had done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us; Oh, how happy we were!
[PS 126:1-3]
LORD, my heart is
not proud; nor are my eyes haughty. I do not busy myself with
great matters, with things too sublime for me. [PS 131:1]
Who alone has done great wonders, God's love
endures forever [Taken from PS 136:4]
All the kings of earth will praise you, LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth. They will sing of the ways
of the LORD: "How great is the glory of the LORD!" The
LORD is on high, but cares for the lowly and knows the proud from
afar. [PS 138:4-6]
Great is the LORD and worthy of high praise;
God's grandeur is beyond understanding. One generation praises
your deeds to the next and proclaims your mighty works. They speak
of the splendor of your majestic glory, tell of your wonderful
deeds. They speak of your fearsome power and attest to your great
deeds. They publish the renown of your abounding goodness and
joyfully sing of your justice. [PS 145:3-7]
Great is our Lord, vast in power, with wisdom beyond measure. The LORD sustains the poor, but casts the wicked to the ground. [PS 147:5-6]
Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy sanctuary;
give praise in the mighty dome of heaven. Give praise for his
mighty deeds, praise him for his great majesty. Give praise with
blasts upon the horn, praise him with harp and lyre. Give praise
with tambourines and dance, praise him with flutes and strings.
Give praise with crashing cymbals, praise him with sounding
cymbals. Let everything that has breath give praise to the LORD!
Hallelujah! [PS 150:1-6]
By his own iniquities the wicked man will be caught, in the meshes of his own sin he will be held fast; He will die from lack of discipline, through the greatness of his folly he will be lost.
[PROV 5:22-23]
For vindictive is the husband's wrath, he will have no pity on the day of vengeance; He will not consider any restitution, nor be satisfied with the greatest gifts.
[PROV 6:34-35]
One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. [PROV 13:7]
Better a little with fear of the LORD than a
great fortune with anxiety. [PROV 15:16]
A man's gift clears the way for him, and gains
him access to great men. [PROV 18:16]
A good name is more desirable than great riches,
and high esteem, than gold and silver. [PROV 22:1]
Claim no honor in the king's presence, nor occupy the place of great men; For it is better that you be told, "Come up closer!" than that you be humbled before the prince. [PROV 25:6-7]
When the just are triumphant, there is great
jubilation; but when the wicked gain preeminence, people hide. [PROV
28:12]
Though I said to myself, "Behold, I have become great and stored up wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem, and my mind has broad experience of wisdom and knowledge"; yet when I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly, I learned that this also is a chase after wind. [ECCL 1:16-17]
For here is a man who has labored with wisdom
and knowledge and skill, and to another, who has not labored over
it, he must leave his property. This also is vanity and a great
misfortune. [ECCL 2:21]
Where there are great riches, there are also
many to devour them. Of what use are they to the owner except to
feast his eyes upon? [ECCL 5:10]
Should a man have a hundred children and live
many years, no matter to what great age, still if he has not the
full benefit of his goods, or if he is deprived of burial, of this
man I proclaim that the child born dead is more fortunate than he.
[ECCL 6:3]
"He who keeps the commandment experiences
no evil, and the wise man's heart knows times and judgments; for
there is a time and a judgment for everything." - Yet it is a
great affliction for man that he is ignorant of what is to come;
for who will make known to him how it will be? There is no man who
is master of the breath of life so as to retain it, and none has
mastery of the day of death. There is no exemption from the
struggle, nor are the wicked saved by their wickedness. [ECCL 8:5-8]
Should the anger of the ruler burst upon you,
forsake not your place; for mildness abates great offenses. [ECCL
10:4]
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly
blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself.
[WISDOM 3:5]
Then shall the just one with great assurance
confront his oppressors who set at nought his labors. Seeing this,
they shall be shaken with dreadful fear, and amazed at the
unlooked-for salvation. They shall say among themselves, rueful
and groaning through anguish of spirit: "This is he whom once
we held as a laughingstock and as a type for mockery, fools that
we were! His life we accounted madness, and his death dishonored.
See how he is accounted among the sons of God; how his lot is with
the saints!" [WISDOM 5:1-5]
For the Lord of all shows no partiality, nor
does he fear greatness, Because he himself made the great as well
as the small, and he provides for all alike; but for those in
power a rigorous scrutiny impends. [WISDOM 6:7-8]
A great number of wise men is the safety of the
world, and a prudent king, the stability of his people [Taken from
WISDOM
6:24]
For with you great strength abides always; who
can resist the might of your arm? [WISDOM 11:21]
For from the greatness and the beauty of created
things their original author, by analogy, is seen. [WISDOM 13:5]
Then it was not enough for them to err in their
knowledge of God; but even though they live in a great war of
ignorance, they call such evils peace. [WISDOM 14:22]
For great are your judgments, and hardly to be
described; therefore the unruly souls were wrong. [WISDOM 17:1]
But your holy ones had very great light; And
those others, who heard their voices but did not see their forms,
since now they themselves had suffered, called them blest [Taken
from WISDOM
18:1]
My son, when you come to serve the LORD, prepare
yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast,
undisturbed in time of adversity. Cling to him, forsake him not;
thus will your future be great. Accept whatever befalls you, in
crushing misfortune be patient; For in fire gold is tested, and
worthy men in the crucible of humiliation. [SIRACH 2:1-5]
Humble yourself the more, the greater you are,
and you will find favor with God. For great is the power of God; by the humble he
is glorified. [SIRACH 3:18-19]
Of forgiveness be not overconfident, adding sin
upon sin. Say not: "Great is his mercy; my many sins he will
forgive." For mercy and anger alike are with him; upon the
wicked alights his wrath. [SIRACH 5:5-7]
Say nothing harmful, small or great; be not a
foe instead of a friend; A bad name and disgrace will you acquire:
"That for the evil man with double tongue!" [SIRACH 6:1]
Giving your daughter in marriage ends a great
task; but give her to a worthy man. [SIRACH 7:25]
The prince, the ruler, the judge are in honor;
but none is greater than he who fears God. [SIRACH 10:23]
My son, why increase your cares, since he who is
avid for wealth will not be blameless? Even if you run after it,
you will never overtake it; however you seek it, you will not find
it. One may toil and struggle and drive, and fall short all the
more. Another goes his way a weakling and a failure, with little
strength and great misery - Yet the eyes of the LORD look
favorably upon him; he raises him free of the vile dust, Lifts up
his head and exalts him to the amazement of the many. [SIRACH 11:10-13]
Bear no burden too heavy for you; go with no one
greater or wealthier than yourself. How can the earthen pot go
with the metal cauldron? When they knock together, the pot will be
smashed [Taken from SIRACH 13:2]
Great as his mercy is his punishment; he judges
men, each according to his deeds. [SIRACH 16:12]
How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness
of those who return to him! [SIRACH 17:24]
The sum of a man's days is great if it reaches a hundred years: Like a drop of sea water, like a grain of sand, so are these few years among the days of eternity. [SIRACH 18:7-8]
There are those with little understanding who
fear God, and those of great intelligence who violate the law. [SIRACH
19:20]
A wise man advances himself by his words, a
prudent man pleases the great. [SIRACH 20:26]
He who works his land has abundant crops, he who
pleases the great is pardoned his faults. [SIRACH 20:27]
A man who often swears heaps up obligations; the
scourge will never be far from his house. If he swears in error,
he incurs guilt; if he neglects his obligation, his sin is doubly
great. If he swears without reason he cannot be found just, and
all his house will suffer affliction. [SIRACH 23:11]
The first man never finished comprehending wisdom, nor will the last succeed in fathoming her.
For deeper than the sea are her thoughts; her counsels, than the great abyss. [SIRACH 24:26-27]
He who finds wisdom is great indeed, but not greater than he who fears the LORD.
Fear of the LORD surpasses all else. its possessor is beyond compare. [SIRACH 25:10-11]
No poison worse than that of a serpent, no venom greater than that of a woman.
With a dragon or a lion I would rather dwell than live with an evil woman.
[SIRACH 25:14-15]
A drunken wife arouses great anger, for she does
not hide her shame. [SIRACH 26:8]
The more wood, the greater the fire, the more
underlying it, the fiercer the fight; The greater a man's
strength, the sterner his anger, the greater his power, the
greater his wrath. [SIRACH 28:10]
Better a poor man strong and robust, than a rich
man with wasted frame. More precious than gold is health and
well-being, contentment of spirit than coral. No treasure greater
than a healthy body; no happiness, than a joyful heart! [SIRACH
30:14-16]
If you are dining with a great man, bring not a greedy gullet to his table,
Nor cry out, "How much food there is here!" Remember that gluttony is evil.
No creature is greedier than the eye: therefore it weeps for any cause.
[SIRACH 31:12-13]
So too, all men are of clay, for from earth man
was formed; Yet with his great knowledge the LORD makes men
unlike; in different paths he has them walk. Some he blesses and
makes great, some he sanctifies and draws to himself. Others he
curses and brings low, and expels them from their place. Like clay
in the hands of a potter, to be molded according to his pleasure,
So are men in the hands of their Creator, to be assigned by him
their function. [SIRACH 33:10-13]
To keep the law is a great oblation, and he who
observes the commandments sacrifices a peace offering. [SIRACH
35:1]
Speak not to a woman about her rival, nor to a
coward about war, to a merchant about business, to a buyer about
value, to a miser about generosity, to a cruel man about mercy, to
a lazy man about work, to a seasonal laborer about the harvest, to
an idle slave about a great task: pay no attention to any advice
they give. [SIRACH 37:11]
Listen, my faithful children: open up your
petals, like roses planted near running waters; Send up the sweet
odor of incense, break forth in blossoms like the lily. Send up
the sweet odor of your hymn of praise; bless the LORD for all he
has done! Proclaim the greatness of his name, loudly sing his
praises, With music on the harp and all stringed instruments; sing
out with joy as you proclaim: The works of God are all of them
good; in its own time every need is supplied. [Taken from SIRACH
39:13-16]
A great anxiety has God allotted, and a heavy
yoke, to the sons of men; From the day one leaves his mother's
womb to the day he returns to the mother of all the living, His
thoughts, the fear in his heart, and his troubled forebodings till
the day he dies - Whether he sits on a lofty throne or grovels in
dust and ashes, Whether he bears a splendid crown or is wrapped in
the coarsest of cloaks - Are of wrath and envy, trouble and dread,
terror of death, fury and strife. Even when he lies on his bed to
rest, his cares at night disturb his sleep. [SIRACH 40:1-5]
The orb of the sun, resplendent at its rising:
what a wonderful work of the Most High! At noon it seethes the
surface of the earth, and who can bear its fiery heat? Like a
blazing furnace of solid metal, it sets the mountains aflame with
its rays; By its fiery darts the land is consumed; the eyes are
dazzled by its light. Great indeed is the LORD who made it, at
whose orders it urges on its steeds. [SIRACH 43:2-5]
Let us praise him the more, since we cannot
fathom him, for greater is he than all his works; Awful indeed is
the LORD'S majesty, and wonderful is his power. Lift up your
voices to glorify the LORD, though he is still beyond your power
to praise; Extol him with renewed strength, and weary not, though
you cannot reach the end: For who can see him and describe him? or
who can praise him as he is? Beyond these, many things lie hid;
only a few of his works have we seen. It is the LORD who has made
all things, and to those who fear him he gives wisdom. [SIRACH
43:29-35]
Valiant leader was Joshua, son of Nun, assistant
to Moses in the prophetic office, Formed to be, as his name
implies, the great savior of God's chosen ones, To punish the
enemy and to win the inheritance for Israel. [SIRACH 46:1]
The greatest among his brethren, the glory of
his people, was Simon the priest, son of Jochanan, In whose time
the house of God was renovated, in whose days the temple was
reinforced. [SIRACH 50:1]
You have delivered me, in your great mercy From
the scourge of a slanderous tongue, and from lips that went over
to falsehood; From the snare of those who watched for my downfall,
and from the power of those who sought my life; From many a danger
you have saved me [Taken from SIRACH 51:3]
When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom.
She came to me in her beauty, and until the end I will cultivate
her. As the blossoms yielded to ripening grapes, the heart's joy,
My feet kept to the level path because from earliest youth I was
familiar with her. In the short time I paid heed, I met with great
instruction. Since in this way I have profited, I will give my
teacher grateful praise. [SIRACH 51:13-17]
The people who walked in darkness have seen a
great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has
shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, As
they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when
dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on
their shoulder, And the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed,
as on the day of Midian. For a child is born to us, a son is given
us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him
Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His
dominion is vast and forever peaceful, From David's throne, and
over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains By judgment and
justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will
do this! [ISA 9:1-3,5-6]
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!
[ISA 12:5-6]
But now the LORD has spoken: In three years,
like those of a hireling, the glory of Moab shall be degraded
despite all its great multitude; there shall be a remnant, very
small and weak. [ISA 16:14]
On that day, A great trumpet shall blow, and the
lost in the land of Assyria and the outcasts in the land of Egypt
Shall come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain, in
Jerusalem. [ISA 27:13]
Woe to the majestic garland of the drunkard
Ephraim, To the fading blooms of his glorious beauty, on the head
of him who is stupefied with wine. Behold, the LORD has a strong
one and a mighty, who, like a downpour of hail, a destructive
storm, Like a flood of water, great and overflowing, levels to the
ground with violence; With feet that will trample the majestic
garland of the drunkard Ephraim. [ISA 28:1-3]
This too comes from the LORD of hosts; wonderful
is his counsel and great his wisdom. [ISA 28:29]
Upon every high mountain and lofty hill there
will be streams of running water. On the day of the great
slaughter, when the towers fall, The light of the moon will be like that of the
sun and the light of the sun will be seven times greater (like the
light of seven days). On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of
his people, he will heal the bruises left by his blows. [ISA 30:25-26]
To whom can you liken me as an equal? says the
Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these:
He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all by
name. By his great might and the strength of his power not one of
them is missing! Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded
by my God"? Do you not know or have you not heard? The LORD
is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not
faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He
gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor
abound. [ISA 40:25-29]
Both these things shall come to you suddenly, in
a single day: Complete bereavement and widowhood shall come upon
you For your many sorceries and the great number of your spells;
Because you felt secure in your wickedness, and said, "No one
sees me." Your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, And
you said to yourself, "I, and no one else!" But upon you
shall come evil you will not know how to predict; Disaster shall
befall you which you cannot allay. Suddenly there shall come upon
you ruin which you will not expect. [ISA
47:9-11]
See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be
raised high and greatly exalted. Even as many were amazed at him -
so marred was his look beyond that of man, and his appearance
beyond that of mortals - So shall he startle many nations, because
of him kings shall stand speechless; For those who have not been
told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it. [ISA
52:13-15]
Because of his affliction he shall see the light
in fullness of days; Through his suffering, my servant shall
justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. Therefore I will give
him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils
with the mighty, Because he surrendered himself to death and was
counted among the wicked; And he shall take away the sins of many,
and win pardon for their offenses. [ISA 53:11-12]
For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great tenderness I will take you back.
In an outburst of wrath, for a moment I hid my face from you; But with enduring love I take pity on you, says the LORD, your redeemer.
[ISA 54:7-8]
All your sons shall be taught by the LORD, and
great shall be the peace of your children. [ISA 54:13]
Who is this that comes from Edom, in crimsoned
garments, from Bozrah- This one arrayed in majesty, marching in
the greatness of his strength? "It is I, I who announce
vindication, I who am mighty to save." [ISA 63:1]
The favors of the LORD I will recall, the
glorious deeds of the LORD, Because of all he has done for us; for
he is good to the house of Israel, He has favored us according to
his mercy and his great kindness. [ISA 63:7]
I will go to the great ones and speak with them;
For they know the way of the LORD, their duty to their God. But,
one and all, they had broken the yoke, torn off the harness. [JER
5:5]
Thus says the LORD: See, a people comes from the
land of the north, a great nation, roused from the ends of the
earth. [JER 6:22]
The dirge is heard from Zion: Ruined we are, and
greatly ashamed; We must leave the land, give up our homes! [JER
9:18]
No one is like you, O LORD, great are you, great
and mighty is your name. Who would not fear you, King of the
nations, for it is your due! Among all the wisest of the nations,
and in all their domain, there is none like you. [JER 10:6-7]
Thus says the LORD: So also I will allow the pride of Judah to rot, the great pride of Jerusalem. This wicked people who refuse to obey my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts, and follow strange gods to serve and adore them, shall be like this loincloth which is good for nothing. [JER 13:9-10]
Speak to them this word: Let my eyes stream with
tears day and night, without rest, Over the great destruction
which overwhelms the virgin daughter of my people, over her
incurable wound. [JER 14:17]
When you proclaim all these words to this people
and they ask you: "Why has the LORD pronounced all these
great evils against us? What is our crime? What sin have we
committed against the LORD, our God?" - you shall answer
them: It is because your fathers have forsaken me, says the LORD,
and followed strange gods, which they served and worshiped; but me
they have forsaken, and my law they have not observed. And you
have done worse than your fathers. Here you are, every one of you,
walking in the hardness of his evil heart instead of listening to
me. I will cast you out of this land into a land that neither you
nor your fathers have known; there you can serve strange gods day
and night, because I will not grant you my mercy. [JER 16:10-13]
Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I will turn back in your
hands the weapons with which you intend to fight the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the walls. These weapons I will pile up in the midst of this city, and I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and mighty arm, in anger, and wrath, and great rage! [JER 21:4-5]
Many people will pass by this city and ask one another: "Why has the LORD done this to so great a city?" And the answer will be given: "Because they have deserted their covenant with the LORD, their God, by worshiping and serving strange gods."
[JER 22:8-9]
They also shall be enslaved to great nations and
mighty kings, and thus I will repay them according to their own
deeds and according to their own handiwork. [JER 25:14]
"Did Hezekiah, king of Judah, and all Judah
condemn him to death? Did they not rather fear the LORD and
entreat the favor of the LORD, so that he repented of the evil
with which he had threatened them? But we are on the point of
committing this great evil to our own undoing." [JER 26:19]
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: It was I who made the earth, and man and beast on the face of the earth, by my great power, with my outstretched arm; and I can give them to whomever I think fit. [Taken from JER 27:4-5]
Why cry out over your wound? your pain is
without relief. Because of your great guilt, your numerous sins, I
have done this to you. [JER 30:15]
The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will
make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of
Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers
the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land
of Egypt; for they broke my covenant and I had to show myself
their master, says the LORD. But this is the covenant which I will
make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD. I
will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I
will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer will
they have need to teach their friends and kinsmen how to know the
LORD. All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD,
for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.
[JER 31:31-34]
Ah, Lord GOD, you have made heaven and earth by
your great might, with your outstretched arm; nothing is
impossible to you. You continue your kindness through a thousand
generations; and you repay the fathers' guilt, even into the lap
of their sons who follow them. O God, great and mighty, whose name
is LORD of hosts, great in counsel, mighty in deed, whose eyes are
open to all the ways of men, giving to each according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds: you have wrought signs and
wonders in the land of Egypt and to this day, both in Israel and
among all other men, until now you have gained renown. With strong
hand and outstretched arm you brought your people Israel out of
the land of Egypt amid signs and wonders and great terror. [JER
32:17-21]
Behold, I will gather them together from all the
lands to which in anger, wrath, and great rage I banish them; I
will bring them back to this place and settle them here in safety.
They shall be my people, and I will be their God. One heart and
one way I will give them, that they may fear me always, to their
own good and that of their children after them. I will make with
them an eternal covenant, never to cease doing good to them; into
their hearts I will put the fear of me, that they may never depart
from me. I will take delight in doing good to them: I will replant
them firmly in this land, with all my heart and soul. For thus
says the LORD: Just as I brought upon this people all this great
evil, so I will bring upon them all the good I promise them. [JER
32:37-42]
Thus says the LORD who made the earth and gave it form and firmness, whose name is LORD: Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell to you things great beyond reach of your knowledge.
[JER 33:2-3]
Perhaps they will lay their supplication before
the LORD and will all turn back from their evil way; for great is
the fury of anger with which the LORD has threatened this people.
[JER 36:7]
Now thus says the LORD God of hosts, the God of
Israel: Why do you inflict so great an evil upon yourselves? Will
you root out from Judah man and wife, child and nursling, and not
leave yourselves even a remnant? [JER 44:7]
But listen then to the word of the LORD, all you
people of Judah who live in Egypt; I swear by my own great name,
says the LORD, in the whole land of Egypt no man of Judah shall
henceforth pronounce my name, saying, "As the Lord GOD
lives." I am watching over them to do evil, not good. All the
men of Judah in Egypt shall perish by the sword or famine until
they are utterly destroyed. Those who escape the sword to return
from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah shall be few in
number. The whole remnant of Judah who came to settle in Egypt
shall know whose word stands, mine or theirs. [JER 44:26-28]
And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek
them not! I am bringing evil on all mankind, says the LORD, but
your life I will leave you as booty, wherever you may go. [JER
45:5]
To what can I liken or compare you, O daughter
Jerusalem? What example can I show you for your comfort, virgin
daughter Zion? For great as the sea is your downfall; who can heal
you? [LAM 2:13]
But I will call this to mind, as my reason to have hope: The favors of the LORD are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent; They are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness.
[LAM 3:21-23]
The punishment of the daughter of my people is
greater than the penalty of Sodom, Which was overthrown in an
instant without the turning of a hand. [LAM 4:6]
He brought down upon us evils so great that
there has not been done anywhere under heaven what has been done
in Jerusalem, as was written in the law of Moses [Taken from
BARUCH 2:2]
"And now, LORD, God of Israel, you who led
your people out of the land of Egypt with your mighty hand, with
signs and wonders and great might, and with your upraised arm, so
that you have made for yourself a name till the present day"
[Taken from BARUCH 2:11]
"But with us, O Lord, our God, you have
dealt in all your clemency and in all your great mercy." [BARUCH
2:27]
With mourning and lament I sent you forth, but
God will give you back to me with enduring gladness and joy. As
Zion's neighbors lately saw you taken captive, so shall they soon
see God's salvation come to you, with great glory and the splendor
of the Eternal God. [BARUCH 4:23-24]
Son of man, he asked me, do you see what they
are doing? Do you see the great abominations that the house of
Israel is practicing here, so that I must depart from my
sanctuary? But you shall see still greater abominations! [EZEK
8:6]
As they began to strike, I was left alone. I fell prone, crying out,
"Alas, Lord GOD! Will you destroy all that is left of Israel when you pour out your fury on Jerusalem?" He answered me: The sins of the house of Israel are great beyond measure; the land is filled with bloodshed, the city with lawlessness. They think that the LORD has forsaken the land, that he does not see them. I, however, will not look upon them with pity, nor show any mercy. I will bring down their conduct upon their heads. [EZEK 9:8-10]
Those near you and those far off shall deride
you because of your foul reputation and your great perversity.
[EZEK 22:5]
I will execute great acts of vengeance on them,
punishing them furiously. Thus they shall know that I am the LORD,
when I wreak my vengeance on them. [EZEK 25:17]
You became haughty of heart because of your
beauty; for the sake of splendor you debased your wisdom. I cast
you to the earth, so great was your guilt; I made you a spectacle
in the sight of kings. [EZEK 28:17]
Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to the
great ones of Memphis and the princes of the land of Egypt, that
they may be no more. I will cast fear into the land of Egypt, and
devastate Pathros. [EZEK 30:13]
I will prove the holiness of my great name,
profaned among the nations, in whose midst you have profaned it.
Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD,
when in their sight I prove my holiness through you. [EZEK 36:23]
But on that day, the day when Gog invades the
land of Israel, says the Lord GOD, my fury shall be aroused. In my
anger and in my jealousy, in my fiery wrath, I swear: On that day
there shall be a great shaking upon the land of Israel. Before me
shall tremble the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, the
beasts of the field and all the reptiles that crawl upon the
ground, and all men who are on the land. Mountains shall be
overturned, and cliffs shall tumble, and every wall shall fall to
the ground. Against him I will summon every terror, says the Lord
GOD, every man's sword against his brother. I will hold judgment
with him in pestilence and bloodshed; flooding rain and
hailstones, fire and brimstone, I will rain upon him, upon his
troops, and upon the many peoples with him. I will prove my
greatness and holiness and make myself known in the sight of many
nations; thus they shall know that I am the LORD. [EZEK 38:18-23]
Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us
in your kindness and great mercy. [DAN 3:42]
It has seemed good to me to publish the signs and wonders which the most high God has accomplished in my regard. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders; his kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and his dominion endures through all generations. [DAN
3:99-100]
"These were the visions I saw while in bed: I saw a tree of great height at the center of the world. It was large and strong, with its top touching the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of the earth.
Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, providing food for all. Under it the wild beasts found shade, in its branches the birds of the air nested; all men ate of
it." [Taken from DAN 4:7-9]
At the same time my reason returned to me, and
for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and my splendor returned
to me. My nobles and lords sought me out; I was restored to my
kingdom, and became much greater than before. [DAN 4:33]
I, Daniel, found my spirit anguished within its
sheath of flesh, and I was terrified by the visions of my mind. I
approached one of those present and asked him what all this meant
in truth; in answer, he made known to me the meaning of the
things: "These four great beasts stand for four kingdoms
which shall arise on the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High
shall receive the kingship, to possess it forever and ever." [DAN
7:15-18]
I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest
prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. I prayed to the LORD,
my God, and confessed, "Ah, Lord, great and awesome God, you
who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and
observe your commandments! We have sinned, been wicked and done
evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and
your laws. We have not obeyed your servants the prophets, who
spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all
the people of the land. Justice, O Lord, is on your side; we are
shamefaced even to this day: the men of Judah, the residents of
Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far, in all the countries to
which you have scattered them because of their treachery toward
you. O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and
our fathers, for having sinned against you. But yours, O Lord, our
God, are compassion and forgiveness! Yet we rebelled against you
and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God, to live by the
law you gave us through your servants the prophets. Because all
Israel transgressed your law and went astray, not heeding your
voice, the sworn malediction, recorded in the law of Moses, the
servant of God, was poured out over us for our sins. You carried
out the threats you spoke against us and against those who
governed us, by bringing upon us in Jerusalem the greatest
calamity that has ever occurred under heaven. As it is written in
the law of Moses, this calamity came full upon us. As we did not
appease the LORD, our God, by turning back from our wickedness and
recognizing his constancy, so the LORD kept watch over the
calamity and brought it upon us. You, O LORD, our God, are just in
all that you have done, for we did not listen to your voice. Now,
O Lord, our God, who led your people out of the land of Egypt with
a strong hand, and made a name for yourself even to this day, we
have sinned, we are guilty. O Lord, in keeping with all your just
deeds, let your anger and your wrath be turned away from your city
Jerusalem, your holy mountain. On account of our sins and the
crimes of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become the
reproach of all our neighbors. Hear, therefore, O God, the prayer
and petition of your servant; and for your own sake, O Lord, let
your face shine upon your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O my God,
and listen; open your eyes and see our ruins and the city which
bears your name. When we present our petition before you, we rely
not on our just deeds, but on your great mercy. O Lord, hear! O
Lord, pardon! O Lord, be attentive and act without delay, for your
own sake, O my God, because this city and your people bear your
name!" [DAN 9:3-19]
In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a
revelation was given to Daniel, who had been named Belteshazzar.
The revelation was certain: a great war; he understood it from the
vision. [DAN 10:1]
"At that time there shall arise Michael,
the great prince, guardian of your people; It shall be a time
unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At
that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written
in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth
shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an
everlasting horror and disgrace. But the wise shall shine brightly
like the splendor of the firmament, And those who lead the many to
justice shall be like the stars forever." [DAN 12:1-3]
The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who
saves those that hope in him. They rose up against the two elders,
for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury.
According to the law of Moses, they inflicted on them the penalty
they had plotted to impose on their neighbor: they put them to
death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day. Hilkiah and his
wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, as did Joakim her
husband and all her relatives, because she was found innocent of
any shameful deed. And from that day onward Daniel was greatly
esteemed by the people. [DAN 13:60-64]
On the seventh day the king came to mourn for Daniel. As he came to the den and looked in, there was Daniel, sitting there! The king cried aloud, "You are great, O Lord, the God of Daniel, and there is no other besides you!" [DAN 14:40-41]
The LORD raises his voice at the head of his
army; For immense indeed is his camp, yes, mighty, and it does his
bidding. For great is the day of the LORD, and exceedingly
terrible; who can bear it? Yet even now, says the LORD, return to
me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your
God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in
kindness, and relenting in punishment. [JOEL
2:11-13]
Fear not, O land! exult and rejoice! for the
LORD has done great things. Fear not, beasts of the field! for the
pastures of the plain are green; The tree bears its fruit, the fig
tree and the vine give their yield. And do you, O children of
Zion, exult and rejoice in the LORD, your God! He has given you
the teacher of justice: he has made the rain come down for you,
the early and the late rain as before. [JOEL 2:21-23]
Then afterward I will pour out my spirit upon
all mankind. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men
shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; Even upon
the servants and the handmaids, in those days, I will pour out my
spirit. And I will work wonders in the heavens and on the earth,
blood, fire, and columns of smoke; The sun will be turned to
darkness, and the moon to blood, At the coming of the Day of the
LORD, the great and terrible day. Then everyone shall be rescued
who calls on the name of the LORD; For on Mount Zion there shall
be a remnant, as the LORD has said, And in Jerusalem survivors
whom the LORD shall call. [JOEL 3:1-5]
Proclaim this in the castles of Ashdod, in the
castles of the land of Egypt: "Gather about the mountain of
Samaria, and see the great disorders within her, the oppression in
her midst." For they know not how to do what is right, says
the LORD, Storing up in their castles what they have extorted and
robbed. [AMOS 3:9-10]
Indeed, the LORD has given the command to
shatter the great house to bits, and reduce the small house to
rubble. [AMOS 6:11]
Then the Lord GOD showed me this: he called for
a judgment by fire. It had devoured the great abyss, and was
consuming the land, when I said: Cease, O Lord GOD! How can Jacob
stand? He is so small! The LORD repented of this. "This also
shall not be," said the Lord GOD. [AMOS 7:4-6]
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