could
361 occurrences across the corpus
OT Pseudepigrapha
THEN God looked upon the words of Adam that they were true, and that he could long await His order, respecting the counsel of Satan.
But as to Cain, ever since he had killed his brother, he could find no rest in any place; but went back to Adam and Eve, trembling, terrified, and defiled with blood. . . .
As for Cain, when the mourning for his brother was ended, he took his sister Luluwa and married her, without leave from his father and mother; for they could not keep him from her, by reason of their heavy heart.
Meanwhile Cain, ever since God had cast him off, and had cursed him with trembling and terror, could neither settle nor find rest in any one place; but wandered from place to place.
No sooner did Jared begin to pray than the elder fled with his companions; for they could not abide in a place of prayer.
Then Jared turned round but could not see them, but found himself standing in the midst of the children of Cain.
But after they had thus fallen into this defilement, they returned by the way they had come, and tried to ascend the Holy Mountain. But they could not, because the stones of that holy mountain were of fire flashing before them, by reason of which they could not go up again.
But after they had thus fallen into this defilement, they returned by the way they had come, and tried to ascend the Holy Mountain. But they could not, because the stones of that holy mountain were of fire flashing before them, by reason of which they could not go up again.
And when I was asleep, great distress came up into my heart, and I was weeping with my eyes in sleep, and I could not understand what this distress was, or what would happen to me.
AND the Lord called up one of the older angels, terrible and menacing, and placed him by me, in appearance white as snow, and his hands like ice, having the appearance of great frost, and he froze my face, because I could not endure the terror of the Lord, just as it is not possible to endure a stove's fire and the sun's heat, and the frost of the air.
Now they had a city with walls of iron and gates of brass; and we could not enter into it, and we encamped around, and besieged it.
And when I called her, I heard also the secret words which I spoke when lying with her in my drunkenness; and I could not slay her, because it was from the Lord.
And lo, a bull upon the earth, with two great horns, and an eagle's wings upon its back; and we wished to seize him, but could not.
For he saw that I had delivered a lamb out of the mouth of a bear, and put the bear to death; but had slain the lamb, being grieved concerning it that it could not live, and that we had eaten it.
And Haiqar said to him, 'O my lord! if there were such a distance between Egypt and Nineveh how could thy mares hear when my lord the king's horse neighs and cast their young? and how could the voice of the horse reach to Egypt?'
And Haiqar said to him, 'O my lord! if there were such a distance between Egypt and Nineveh how could thy mares hear when my lord the king's horse neighs and cast their young? and how could the voice of the horse reach to Egypt?'
O my boy! thou hast been to me like the partridge that had been thrown into the net, and she could not save herself, but she called out to the partridges, that she might cast them with herself into the net.
Demetrius of Phalerum, the president of the king's library, received vast sum of money, for the purpose of collecting together, as far as he possibly could, all the books in the world.
They could not therefore scamp any part of the work or finish it off negligently.
And they made the top of the table in three parts like a triptychon, and they were so fitted and dovetailed together with spigots along the whole breadth of the work, that the meeting of the joints could not be seen or even discovered.
For since the king did not wish to add to its size he expended on the details the same sum of money which would have been required if the table could have been of larger dimensions.
Its fabric owing to the draught of wind was in perpetual motion, and as this motion was communicated from the bottom and the curtain bulged out to its highest extent, it afforded a pleasant spectacle from which a man could scarcely tear himself away.
It is about forty furlongs [*1] in circumference, as far as one could conjecture.
And one could observe how they loved Eleazar by their unwillingness to be torn away from him and how he loved them.
Taking an opportunity afforded by a pause in the banquet the king asked the envoy who sat in the seat of honour (for they were arranged according to seniority), how he could keep his kingdom unimpaired to the end?
After pondering for a moment he replied, 'You could best establish its security if you were to imitate the unceasing benignity of God. For if you exhibit clemency and inflict mild punishments upon those who deserve them in accordance with their deserts, you will turn them from evil and lead them to repentance.' [*1]
The king praised the answer and then asked the next man, how he could do everything for the best in all his actions?
The king complimented this man, too, upon his answer and asked another, how he could have friends like-minded with himself?
After expressing his agreement with the reply, the king asked the next guest, how in giving audiences and passing judgments he could gain the praise even of those who failed to win their suit?
The king praised the man warmly for his answer and asked the next in order, how he could be invincible in military affairs?
The king exclaimed that the man had answered well and then asked the next how he could keep all his possessions intact and finally hand them down to his successors in the same condition?
The king expressed his agreement with the answer and inquired of the next guest, how he could bear with equanimity whatever befell him?
When silence was established, he asked how he could continue to be rich?
The king bestowed praise upon him and then asked another how he could maintain the truth?
The king praised him and asked the next in order how he could be the friend of men?
Having praised him, the king asked the next, how he could be free from disturbing thoughts in his sleep?
Pleased with these words, the king asked the next, how he could be free from envy?
The king praised the man in a long speech and then asked another, how he could despise his enemies?
Having praised this answer the king ordered the next man to reply to the question, how he could maintain his great renown?
The king in the most gracious way applauded the answer and asked another, how, if he were to fail, he could regain his reputation again in the same degree?
Delighted with these words, the king asked another, how he could be free from grief?
The king expressed agreement and asked the next, how he could become an eager listener?
The king praised him and asked the next How he could avoid doing anything contrary to law?
And having accorded to him the same praise as to the rest, the king asked another, how he could attain freedom from fear?
The king expressed his approval and asked another, how he could always maintain a right judgement?
The king gave a kindly reception to the man and asked the next to answer the question, how he could avoid a life of ease and pleasure?
And he replied, 'If he continually remembered that he was the ruler of a great empire and the lord of vast multitudes, and that his mind ought not to be occupied with other things, but, he ought always to be considering how he could best promote their welfare. He must pray, too, to God that no duty might be neglected.'
Having bestowed praise upon him, the king asked the tenth, how he could recognize those who were dealing treacherously with him?
The king said that he had spoken well and then asked another, how he could be patriotic?
After listening to this man, the king asked the next in order, how he could live amicably with his wife?
The king expressed his agreement and asked the next, how he could be free from error?
Delighted with these words, the king asked another, how he could be free from wrath?
The king signified his consent and asked another, how he could meet with recognition when traveling abroad?
Having expressed his approval at this reply, the king asked another, how he could build in such a way that his structures would endure after him?
For in this way you will win your hearer, not by opposing him, but by bestowing praise upon him with a view to persuading him. And it is by the power of God that persuasion is accomplished.' 53 The king said that he had given a good answer, and asked another, how he could live amicably with the many different races who formed the population of his kingdom?
The king graciously acknowledged the answer and asked the eleventh (since there were two more than seventy), how he could in time of war maintain tranquillity of soul?
When an opportunity occurred, the king asked the first of those who had not yet been questioned, how he could avoid being deceived by fallacious reasoning?
And he replied, 'You should summon to your side men of learning and those who are able to give you useful hints with regard to the affairs of your kingdom and the lives of your subjects (for you could not find any theme more suitable or more educative than this) since such men are dear to God because they have trained their minds to contemplate the noblest themes--as you indeed are doing yourself, since all your actions are directed by God.'
I could bring before you many examples, drawn from various sources, where Reason has proved itself master over the passions, but the best instance by far that I can give is the noble conduct of those who died for the sake of virtue, Eleazar, and the Seven Brethren and the Mother.
But the great-souled and noble man, an Eleazar in very truth, was no more moved in his mind than if he were being tormented in a dream; yea, the old man keeping his eyes steadfastly raised to heaven suffered his flesh to be tom by the scourges till he was bathed in blood and his sides became a mass of wounds; and even when he fell to the ground because his body could no longer support the pain he still kept his Reason erect and inflexible.
For he who could interpret would be dissolved and would become that which is interpreted.