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There was famine in
the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, since the
famine in the land was severe. When he was about to enter Egypt,
he said to his wife Sarai: "I know well how beautiful a woman
you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'She is his
wife'; then they will kill me, but let you live. Please say,
therefore, that you are my sister, so that it may go well with me
on your account and my life may be spared for your sake."
When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw how beautiful the
woman was; and when Pharaoh's courtiers saw her, they praised her
to Pharaoh. So she was taken into Pharaoh's palace. [GEN 12:10-15]
Then he prayed: "LORD, God of my master Abraham, let it
turn out favorably for me today and thus deal graciously with my
master Abraham. While I stand here at the spring and the daughters
of the townsmen are coming out to draw water, if I say to a girl,
'Please lower your jug, that I may drink,' and she answers, 'Take
a drink, and let me give water to your camels, too,' let her be
the one whom you have decided upon for your servant Isaac. In this
way I shall know that you have dealt graciously with my
master." He had scarcely finished these words when Rebekah
(who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham's
brother Nahor) came out with a jug on her shoulder. The girl was
very beautiful, a virgin, untouched by man. She went down to the
spring and filled her jug. As she came up, the servant ran toward
her and said, "Please give me a sip of water from your
jug." "Take a drink, sir," she replied, and quickly
lowering the jug onto her hand, she gave him a drink. When she had
let him drink his fill, she said, "I will draw water for your
camels, too, until they have drunk their fill." [GEN 24:12-19]
So Isaac settled in Gerar. When the men of the place asked questions about his wife, he answered, "She is my sister." He was afraid, if he called her his wife, the men of the place would kill him on account of Rebekah, since she was very beautiful. [GEN
26:6-7]
Now Laban had two daughters; the older was called Leah, the younger Rachel. Leah had lovely eyes, but Rachel was well formed and beautiful.
[GEN 29:16-17]
"Naphtali is a hind let loose which brings forth lovely
fawns." [GEN 49:21]
The LORD said to Moses, "This request, too, which you have just made, I will carry out, because you have found favor with me and you are my intimate friend." Then Moses said, "Do let me see your glory!" He answered, "I will make all my beauty pass before you, and in your presence I will pronounce my name, 'LORD'; I who show favors to whom I will, I who grant mercy to whom I will. But my face you cannot see, for no man sees me and still lives."
[EX 33:17-20]
"Among the spoils, I saw a beautiful Babylonian mantle, two
hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold fifty shekels in
weight; in my greed I took them. They are now hidden in the ground
inside my tent, with the silver underneath." [JOSH 7:21]
One evening David rose from his siesta and strolled about on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful. David had inquiries made about the woman and was told, "She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, and wife of (Joab's armor-bearer) Uriah the Hittite." [2SAM
11:2-3]
Some time later the following incident occurred. David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and David's son Amnon loved her. He was in such straits over his sister Tamar that he became sick
[Taken from 2SAM 13:1-2]
In all Israel there was not a man who could so be praised for
his beauty as Absalom, who was without blemish from the sole of
his foot to the crown of his head. [2SAM 14:25]
Absalom had three sons born to him, besides a daughter named
Tamar, who was a beautiful woman. [2SAM 14:27]
So they sought for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of
Israel, and found Abishag the Shunamite, whom they brought to the
king. [1KGS 1:3]
Raphael said to the boy, "Brother Tobiah!" He answered, "Yes, what is it?" Raphael continued: "Tonight we must stay with Raguel, who is a relative of yours. He has a daughter named Sarah, but no other child. Since you are Sarah's closest relative, you before all other men have the right to marry her. Also, her father's estate is rightfully yours to inherit. Now the girl is sensible, courageous, and very beautiful; and her father loves her dearly."
[TOBIT 6:11-12]
The widowed Judith remained three years and four months at
home, where she set up a tent for herself on the roof of her
house. She put sackcloth about her loins and wore widow's weeds.
She fasted all the days of her widowhood, except sabbath eves and
sabbaths, new moon eves and new moons, feast days and holidays of
the house of Israel. She was beautifully formed and lovely to
behold. Her husband, Manasseh, had left her gold and silver,
servants and maids, livestock and fields, which she was
maintaining. No one had a bad word to say about her, for she was a
very God-fearing woman. [JDTH 8:4-8]
As soon as Judith had thus concluded, and ceased her invocation
to the God of Israel, she rose from the ground. She called her
maid and they went down into the house, which she used only on
sabbaths and feast days. She took off the sackcloth she had on,
laid aside the garments of her widowhood, washed her body with
water, and anointed it with rich ointment. She arranged her hair
and bound it with a fillet, and put on the festive attire she had
worn while her husband, Manasseh, was living. She chose sandals
for her feet, and put on her anklets, bracelets, rings, earrings,
and all her other jewelry. Thus she made herself very beautiful,
to captivate the eyes of all the men who should see her. Then they
went out to the gate of the city of Bethulia and found Uzziah and
the elders of the city, Chabri and Charmis, standing there. When
these men saw Judith transformed in looks and differently dressed,
they were very much astounded at her beauty and said to her,
"May the God of our fathers bring you to favor, and make your
undertaking a success, for the glory of the Israelites and the
exaltation of Jerusalem." Judith bowed down to God. Then she
said to them, "Order the gate of the city opened for me, that
I may go to carry out the business we discussed." So they
ordered the youths to open the gate for her as she requested. When
they did so, Judith and her maid went out. The men of the city
kept her in view as she went down the mountain and crossed the
valley; then they lost sight of her... As Judith and her maid
walked directly across the valley, they encountered the Assyrian
outpost. When the news of her arrival spread among the tents, a
crowd gathered in the camp. They came and stood around her as she
waited outside the tent of Holofernes, while he was being informed
about her. They marveled at her beauty, regarding the Israelites
with wonder because of her, and they said to one another,
"Who can despise this people that has such women among them?
It is not wise to leave one man of them alive, for if any were to
be spared they could beguile the whole world." [JDTH 10:1-4,6-11,
18-19]
The guard of Holofernes and all his servants came out and ushered her into the tent. Now Holofernes was reclining on his bed under a canopy with a netting of crimson and gold, emeralds and other precious stones. When they announced her to him, he came out to the antechamber, preceded by silver lamps; and when Holofernes and his servants beheld Judith, they all marveled at the beauty of her face. She threw herself down prostrate before him, but his servants raised her up.
[JDTH 10:20-23]
Her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; they
marveled at her wisdom and exclaimed, "No other woman from
one end of the world to the other looks so beautiful and speaks so
wisely!" Then Holofernes said to her: "God has done well
in sending you ahead of your people, to bring victory to our arms,
and destruction to those who have despised my lord. You are fair
to behold, and your words are well spoken. If you do as you have
said, your God will be my God; you shall dwell in the palace of
King Nebuchadnezzar, and shall be renowned throughout the
earth." [JDTH 11:20-23]
"But the Lord Almighty thwarted them, by a woman's hand he confounded them. Not by youths was their mighty one struck down, nor did titans bring him low, nor huge giants attack him;
But Judith, the daughter of Merari, by the beauty of her countenance disabled him."
[JDTH 16:5-6]
On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he instructed Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who attended King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti into his presence wearing the royal crown, that he might display her beauty to the populace and the officials, for she was lovely to behold. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the royal order issued through the eunuchs. At this the king's wrath flared up, and he burned with fury.
[ESTH 1:10-12]
There was in the stronghold of Susa a certain Jew named
Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite,
who had been exiled from Jerusalem with the captives taken with
Jeconiah, king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had
deported. He was foster father to Hadassah, that is, Esther, his
cousin; for she had lost both father and mother. The girl was
beautifully formed and lovely to behold. On the death of her
father and mother, Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter.
When the king's order and decree had been obeyed and many maidens
brought together to the stronghold of Susa under the care of
Hegai, Esther also was brought in to the royal palace under the
care of Hegai, custodian of the women. The girl pleased him and
won his favor. So he promptly furnished her with cosmetics and
provisions. [Taken from ESTH 2:5-9]
On the third day, putting an end to her prayers, she took off her penitential garments and arrayed herself in her royal attire. In making her state appearance, after invoking the all-seeing God and savior, she took with her two maids; on the one she leaned gently for support, while the other followed her, bearing her train. She glowed with the perfection of her beauty and her countenance was as joyous as it was lovely, though her heart was shrunk with fear. She passed through all the portals till she stood face to face with the king, who was seated on his royal throne, clothed in full robes of state, and covered with gold and precious stones, so that he inspired great awe.
[ESTH D:1-6]
And there was great mourning for Israel, in every place where they dwelt, and the rulers and the elders groaned.
Virgins and young men languished, and the beauty of the women was disfigured. Every bridegroom took up lamentation, she who sat in the bridal chamber mourned, And the land was shaken on account of its inhabitants, and all the house of Jacob was covered with shame.
[1MACC 1:25-28]
All her adornment has been taken away. From being free, she has become a slave. We see our sanctuary and our beauty and our glory laid waste,
And the Gentiles have defiled them! [1MACC 2:11-12]
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. [2MACC 3:26]
In all the land no other women were as beautiful as the
daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among
their brethren. [JOB 42:15]
One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the
LORD'S house all the days of my life, To gaze on the LORD'S
beauty, to visit his temple. [PS 27:4]
The wicked perish, the enemies of the LORD; Like the beauty of
meadows they vanish; like smoke they disappear. [PS 37:20]
Listen, my daughter, and understand; pay me careful heed. Forget your people and your father's house, that the king might desire your beauty.
He is your lord; honor him, daughter of Tyre. Then the richest of the people will seek your favor with gifts. All glorious is the king's daughter as she enters, her raiment threaded with gold; In embroidered apparel she is led to the king. The maids of her train are presented to the king. They are led in with glad and joyous acclaim; they enter the palace of the king.
[PS 45:11-16]
The LORD, the God of gods, has spoken and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. From Zion God shines forth. perfect in beauty. Our God comes and will not be silent! Devouring fire precedes, storming fiercely round about.
[PS 50:1-3]
How lovely your dwelling, O LORD of hosts! [PS 84:2]
Next they despised the beautiful land; they did not believe the promise. In their tents they complained; they did not obey the LORD. [PS
106:24-25]
And have joy of the wife of your youth, your lovely hind, your graceful doe.
Her love will invigorate you always, through her love you will flourish
continually [Taken from PROV 5:18-19]
Observe, my son, your father's bidding, and reject not your
mother's teaching; Keep them fastened over your heart always, put
them around your neck; For the bidding is a lamp, and the teaching
a light, and a way to life are the reproofs of discipline; To keep
you from your neighbor's wife, from the smooth tongue of the
adulteress. Lust not in your heart after her beauty, let her not
captivate you with her glance! For the price of a loose woman may
be scarcely a loaf of bread, But if she is married, she is a trap
for your precious life. Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his
garments not burned? [PROV 6:20-27]
Like a golden ring in a swine's snout is a beautiful woman with
a rebellious disposition. [PROV 11:22]
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the
LORD is to be praised. [PROV 31:30]
I am as dark-but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem- As the
tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Salma. [SONG 1:5]
Tell me, you whom my heart loves, where you pasture your flock, where you give them rest at midday,
Lest I be found wandering after the flocks of your companions. If you do not know, O most beautiful among women,
Follow the tracks of the flock and pasture the young ones near the shepherds' camps. [SONG
1:7-8]
To the steeds of Pharaoh's chariots would I liken you, my beloved:
Your cheeks lovely in pendants, your neck in jewels. [SONG 1:9-10]
Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved, ah, you are beautiful;
your eyes are doves! [SONG 1:15]
My lover speaks; he says to me, "Arise, my beloved, my
beautiful one, and come!" [SONG 2:10]
The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give
forth fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!
[SONG 2:13]
"O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret
recesses of the cliff, Let me see you, let me hear your voice, For
your voice is sweet, and you are lovely." [SONG 2:14]
Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved, ah, you are beautiful!
Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of
goats streaming down the mountains of Gilead. [SONG 4:1]
Your lips are like a scarlet strand; your mouth is lovely. Your
cheek is like a half-pomegranate behind your veil. [SONG 4:3]
You are all-beautiful, my beloved, and there is no blemish in
you. [SONG 4:7]
How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride, how much more
delightful is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your
ointments than all spices! [SONG 4:10]
How does your lover differ from any other, O most beautiful
among women? How does your lover differ from any other, that you
adjure us so? [SONG 5:9]
Where has your lover gone, O most beautiful among women?
Where has your lover gone that we may seek him with you? [SONG
6:1]
You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my beloved, as lovely as
Jerusalem, as awe-inspiring as bannered troops. [SONG 6:4]
Who is this that comes forth like the dawn, as beautiful as
the moon, as resplendent as the sun, as awe-inspiring as bannered
troops? [SONG 6:10]
How beautiful you are, how pleasing, my love, my delight!
[SONG 7:7]
[Wisdom:] Her I loved and sought after from my youth; I sought
to take her for my bride and was enamored of her beauty. [Taken
from WISDOM 8:2]
For all men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of
God, and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing
him who is, and from studying the works did not discern the
artisan; But either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the
circuit of the stars, or the mighty water, or the luminaries of
heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods. Now if
out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods, let them know
how far more excellent is the Lord than these; for the original
source of beauty fashioned them. Or if they were struck by their
might and energy, let them from these things realize how much more
powerful is he who made them. For from the greatness and the
beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is
seen. [WISDOM 13:1-5]
Avert your eyes from a comely woman; gaze not upon the beauty of another's
wife - Through woman's beauty many perish, for lust for it burns like fire. With a married woman dine not, recline not at table to drink by her side,
Lest your heart be drawn to her [Taken from SIRACH 9:8-9]
Stumble not through woman's beauty, nor be greedy for her wealth; The man is a slave, in disgrace and shame, when a wife supports her husband.
[SIRACH 25:20-21]
Like the sun rising in the LORD'S heavens, the beauty of a
virtuous wife is the radiance of her home. Like the light which
shines above the holy lampstand, are her beauty of face and
graceful figure. [SIRACH 26:16-17]
Though any man may be accepted as a husband, yet one girl will
be more suitable than another: A woman's beauty makes her
husband's face light up, for it surpasses all else that charms the
eye; And if, besides, her speech is kindly, his lot is beyond that
of mortal men. A wife is her husband's richest treasure, a
helpmate, a steadying column. [SIRACH 36:21-24]
Charm and beauty delight the eye, but better than either, the
flowers of the field. [SIRACH 40:22]
How beautiful are all his works! even to the spark and the
fleeting vision! [SIRACH 42:23]
The beauty, the glory, of the heavens are the stars that adorn
with their sparkling the heights of God, At whose command they
keep their place and never relax in their vigils. A weapon against
the flood waters stored on high, lighting up the firmament by its
brilliance, Behold the rainbow! Then bless its Maker, for majestic
indeed is its splendor; It spans the heavens with its glory, this
bow bent by the mighty hand of God. [SIRACH 43:9-12]
He raised up also, like Moses in holiness, his brother Aaron,
of the tribe of Levi. He made him perpetual in his office when he
bestowed on him the priesthood of his people; He established him
in honor and crowned him with lofty majesty; He clothed him with
splendid apparel, and adorned him with the glorious vestments:
Breeches and tunic and robe with pomegranates around the hem, And
a rustle of bells round about, through whose pleasing sound at
each step He would be heard within the sanctuary, and the children
of his race would be remembered; The sacred vestments of gold, of
violet, and of crimson, wrought with embroidery; The breastpiece
for decision, the ephod and cincture with scarlet yarn, the work
of the weaver; Precious stones with seal engravings in golden
settings, the work of the jeweler, To commemorate in incised
letters each of the tribes of Israel; On his turban the diadem of
gold, its plate wrought with the insignia of holiness, Majestic,
glorious, renowned for splendor, a delight to the eyes, beauty
supreme. Before him, no one was adorned with these, nor may they
ever be worn by any Except his sons and them alone, generation
after generation, for all time. For Moses ordained him and
anointed him with the holy oil, In a lasting covenant with him and
with his family, as permanent as the heavens, That he should serve
God in his priesthood and bless his people in his name. He chose
him from all mankind [Taken from SIRACH 45:6-13,15-16]
After him came Nathan who served in the presence of David.
Since he called upon the Most High God, who gave strength to his
right arm To defeat the skilled warrior and raise up the might of
his people, Therefore the women sang his praises and ascribed to
him tens of thousands. When he assumed the royal crown, he battled
and subdued the enemy on every side. He destroyed the hostile
Philistines and shattered their power till our own day. With his
every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise.
With his whole being he loved his Maker and daily had his praises
sung; He added beauty to the feasts and solemnized the seasons of
each year With string music before the altar, providing sweet
melody for the psalms So that when the Holy Name was praised,
before daybreak the sanctuary would resound. [SIRACH 47:1,5-10]
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]
Instead of perfume there will be stench, instead of the girdle, a rope,
And for the coiffure, baldness; for the rich gown, a sackcloth skirt. Then, instead of beauty: Your men will fall by the sword, and your champions, in war; Her gates will lament and mourn, as the city sits desolate on the ground.
[ISA 3:24-26]
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. The fading blooms of his glorious beauty on the
head of the fertile valley Will be like an early fig before
summer: when a man sees it, he picks and swallows it at once. On
that day the LORD of hosts will be a glorious crown And a
brilliant diadem to the remnant of his people, A spirit of justice
to him who sits in judgment, And strength to those who turn back
the battle at the gate. [ISA 28:1-6]
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings
glad tidings, Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing
salvation, and saying to Zion, "Your God is King!" [ISA
52:7]
The glory of Lebanon shall come to you: the cypress, the plane
and the pine, To bring beauty to my sanctuary, and glory to the
place where I set my feet. [ISA 60:13]
I had thought: How I should like to treat you as sons, And give
you a pleasant land, a heritage most beautiful among the nations!
You would call me, "My Father," I thought, and never
cease following me. [JER 3:19]
O lovely and delicate daughter Zion, you are ruined! [JER 6:2]
For, as close as the loincloth clings to a man's loins, so had
I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah
cling to me, says the LORD; to be my people, my renown, my praise,
my beauty. But they did not listen. [JER 13:11]
All who pass by clap their hands at you; They hiss and wag
their heads over daughter Jerusalem: "Is this the
all-beautiful city, the joy of the whole earth?" [LAM 2:15]
The sun and moon and stars are bright, and obedient in the
service for which they are sent. Likewise the lightning, when it
flashes, is a goodly sight; and the same wind blows over all the
land. The clouds, too, when commanded by God to proceed across the
whole world, fulfill the order; and fire, sent from on high to
burn up the mountains and the forests, does what has been
commanded. But these false gods are not their equal, whether in
beauty or in power; so that it is unthinkable, and cannot be
claimed, that they are gods. They can neither execute judgment,
nor benefit man. Know, therefore, that they are not gods, and do
not fear them. Kings they neither curse nor bless. They show the
nations no signs in the heavens, nor are they brilliant like the
sun, nor shining like the moon. The beasts which can help
themselves by fleeing to shelter are better than they are. Thus in
no way is it clear to us that they are gods; so do not fear them.
[BARUCH 6:59-68]
In the beauty of their ornaments they put their pride: they
made of them their abominable images (their idols). For this
reason I make them refuse. [EZEK 7:20]
I clothed you with an embroidered gown, put sandals of fine
leather on your feet; I gave you a fine linen sash and silk robes
to wear. I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms,
a necklace about your neck, a ring in your nose, pendants in your
ears, and a glorious diadem upon your head. Thus you were adorned
with gold and silver; your garments were of fine linen, silk, and
embroidered cloth. Fine flour, honey, and oil were your food. You
were exceedingly beautiful, with the dignity of a queen. You were
renowned among the nations for your beauty, perfect as it was,
because of my splendor which I had bestowed on you, says the Lord
GOD. But you were captivated by your own beauty, you used your
renown to make yourself a harlot, and you lavished your harlotry
on every passer-by, whose own you became. You took some of your
gowns and made for yourself gaudy high places, where you played
the harlot.... You took the splendid gold and silver ornaments
that I had given you and made for yourself male images, with which
also you played the harlot. You took your embroidered gowns to
cover them; my oil and my incense you set before them; the food
that I had given you, the fine flour, the oil, and the honey with
which I fed you, you set before them as an appeasing odor, says
the Lord GOD. [EZEK 16:10-19]
Thus the word of the LORD came to me: As for you, son of man, utter a lament over Tyre, and say to Tyre that is situated at the approaches of the sea, that brought the trade of the peoples to many a coastland: Thus says the Lord GOD:
Tyre, you said, "I am a ship, perfect in beauty." In the midst of the sea your builders placed you, perfected your beauty.
[EZEK 27:1-4]
Persia and Lud and Put were in your army as warriors; shield and helmet they hung upon you, increasing your splendor. The men of Arvad were all about your walls, and the Gamadites were in your towers; they hung their bucklers all around on your walls, and made perfect your beauty.
[EZEK 27:10-11]
Thus the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, utter a
lament over the king of Tyre, saying to him: Thus says the Lord
GOD: You were stamped with the seal of perfection, of complete
wisdom and perfect beauty. In Eden, the garden of God, you were,
and every precious stone was your covering (carnelian, topaz, and
beryl, chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, garnet, and
emerald); Of gold your pendants and jewels were made, on the day
you were created. With the Cherub I placed you; you were on the
holy mountain of God, walking among the fiery stones. Blameless
you were in your conduct from the day you were created, Until evil
was found in you, the result of your far-flung trade; violence was
your business, and you sinned. Then I banned you from the mountain
of God; the Cherub drove you from among the fiery stones. You
became haughty of heart because of your beauty; for the sake of
splendor you debased your wisdom. [Taken from EZEK 28:11-17]
On the first day of the third month in the eleventh year, the
word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, say to Pharaoh, the king
of Egypt, and to his hordes: What are you like in your greatness?
Behold, a cypress (cedar) in Lebanon, beautiful of branch, lofty
of stature, amid the very clouds lifted its crest. Waters made it
grow, the abyss made it flourish, sending its rivers round where
it was planted, turning its streams to all the trees of the field.
Thus it grew taller than every other tree of the field, and longer
of branch because of the abundant water. In its boughs nested all
the birds of the air, under its branches all beasts of the field
gave birth, in its shade dwelt numerous peoples of every race. It
became beautiful and stately in its spread of foliage, for its
roots were turned toward abundant water. The cedars in the garden
of God were not its equal, nor could the fir trees match its
boughs, Neither were the plane trees like it for branches; no tree
in the garden of God matched its beauty. I made it beautiful, with
much foliage, the envy of all Eden's trees in the garden of God.
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because it became lofty in
stature, raising its crest among the clouds, and because it became
proud in heart at its height, I have handed it over to the
mightiest of the nations, which has dealt with it in keeping with
its wickedness. I humiliated it. [EZEK 31:1-11]
"Whom do you excel in beauty?" [EZEK 32:19]
"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." [DAN
4:7-9]
"My lord," Belteshazzar replied, "this dream should be for your enemies, and its meaning for your foes. The large, strong tree that you saw, with its top touching the heavens, that could be seen by the whole earth, which had beautiful foliage and abundant fruit, providing food for all, under which the wild beasts lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air
dwelt - you are that tree, O king, large and strong! Your majesty has become so great as to touch the heavens, and your rule extends over the whole earth."
[DAN 4:17-19]
In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim, who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of
Hilkiah; her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses. [DAN
13:1-3]
When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day, the
two wicked elders also came, fully determined to put Susanna to
death. Before all the people they ordered: "Send for Susanna,
the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim." When she was
sent for, she came with her parents, children and all her
relatives. Susanna, very delicate and beautiful, was veiled; but
those wicked men ordered her to uncover her face so as to sate
themselves with her beauty. All her relatives and the onlookers
were weeping. In the midst of the people the two elders rose up
and laid their hands on her head. Through her tears she looked up
to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly. [DAN 13:28-35]
Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be
brought. "Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah," Daniel
said to him, "beauty has seduced you, lust has subverted your
conscience." [DAN 13:56]
And the LORD, their God, shall save them on that day, his people, like a flock.
For they are the jewels in a crown raised aloft over his land. For what wealth is theirs, and what beauty! grain that makes the youths flourish, and new wine, the maidens!
[ZECH 9:16-17]
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You
are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,
but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth."
[MT 23:27]
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple area for the
three o'clock hour of prayer. And a man crippled from birth was
carried and placed at the gate of the temple called "the
Beautiful Gate" every day to beg for alms from the people who
entered the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into
the temple, he asked for alms. But Peter looked intently at him,
as did John, and said, "Look at us." He paid attention
to them, expecting to receive something from them. Peter said,
"I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give
you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, (rise and)
walk." Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him
up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong. He leaped up,
stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them,
walking and jumping and praising God. When all the people saw him
walking and praising God, they recognized him as the one who used
to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were
filled with amazement and astonishment at what had happened to
him. [ACTS 3:1-10]
At this time Moses was born, and he was extremely beautiful. For three months he was nursed in his father's house; but when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son.
[ACTS 7:20-21]
And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is
written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring (the)
good news!" [ROM 10:15]
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever
is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things. [PHIL 4:8]
By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter; he chose to be ill-treated along with the people of God rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.
[HEB 11:23-25]
Also try:
beauty
[B]
grace
/ graced / graceful [G6]
pure
/ purify / purity [P23]
good
/ goodness [G5a]
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