were

Then said I unto him, It were better that we were not at all, than that we should live still in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore.

Then said I unto him, It were better that we were not at all, than that we should live still in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore.

And after seven days so it was, that the thoughts of my heart were very grievous unto me again,

Say unto her, Wherefore are unto they whom thou hast now brought forth like those that were before, but less of stature?

Consider thou therefore also, how that ye are less of stature than those that were before you.

Before it thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid,

Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together,

Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together,

Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together,

Or ever the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures of the firmament were named, or ever the chimneys in Sion were hot,

Or ever the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures of the firmament were named, or ever the chimneys in Sion were hot,

Or ever the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures of the firmament were named, or ever the chimneys in Sion were hot,

And ere the present years were sought out, and or ever the inventions of them that now sin were turned, before they were sealed that have gathered faith for a treasure:

And ere the present years were sought out, and or ever the inventions of them that now sin were turned, before they were sealed that have gathered faith for a treasure:

And ere the present years were sought out, and or ever the inventions of them that now sin were turned, before they were sealed that have gathered faith for a treasure:

Then did I consider these things, and they all were made through me alone, and through none other: by me also they shall be ended, and by none other.

And he said unto me, From Abraham unto Isaac, when Jacob and Esau were born of him, Jacob’s hand held first the heel of Esau.

And it shall be as it were a great motion; but the place where thou standest shall not be moved.

And then was the spirit, and darkness and silence were on every side; the sound of man’s voice was not yet formed.

Upon the fifth day thou saidst unto the seventh part, where the waters were gathered that it should bring forth living creatures, fowls and fishes: and so it came to pass.

But put the case the entrance were narrow, and like a river;

The entrance thereof is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to fall, like as if there were a fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep water:

If this city now were given unto a man for an inheritance, if he never shall pass the danger set before it, how shall he receive this inheritance?

Then were the entrances of this world made narrow, full of sorrow and travail: they are but few and evil, full of perils,: and very painful.

For the entrances of the elder world were wide and sure, and brought immortal fruit.

Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him; but spake against him, and imagined vain things;

And the earth shall restore those that are asleep in her, and so shall the dust those that dwell in silence, and the secret places shall deliver those souls that were committed unto them.

But they which be created have defiled the name of him that made them, and were unthankful unto him which prepared life for them.

Then shalt thou well understand, that the most High spake of those things from the days that were before thee, even from the beginning.

So I considered the world, and, behold, there was peril because of the devices that were come into it.

And when I spake these things in my heart, I looked back with mine eyes, and upon the right side I saw a woman, and, behold, she mourned and wept with a loud voice, and was much grieved in heart, and her clothes were rent, and she had ashes upon her head.

And I saw, and, behold, she spread her wings over all the earth, and all the winds of the air blew on her, and were gathered together.

But her heads were at rest: the head in the midst was greater than the other, yet rested it with the residue.

And I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto her, and no man spake against her, no, not one creature upon earth.

And I numbered her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were eight of them.

For some of them were set up, but ruled not.

And I beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing thought to set up themselves and to have the rule.

And when they so thought, behold, there awaked one of the heads that were at rest, namely, it that was in the midst; for that was greater than the two other heads.

And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.

And, behold, the head was turned with them that were with it, and did eat up the two feathers under the wing that would have reigned.

And I beheld, and lo, as it were a roaring lion chased out of the wood: and I saw that he sent out a man’s voice unto the eagle, and said,

And the fourth came, and overcame all the beasts that were past, and had power over the world with great fearfulness, and over the whole compass of the earth with much wicked oppression; and so long time dwelt he upon the earth with deceit.

Behold, the days will come, that there shall rise up a kingdom upon earth, and it shall be feared above all the kingdoms that were before it.

And of those that dwell therein, with much oppression, above all those that were before them: therefore are they called the heads of the eagle.

And it came to pass, when all the people saw that the seven days were past, and I not come again into the city, they gathered them all together, from the least unto the greatest, and came unto me, and said,

And I beheld, and, lo, that man waxed strong with the thousands of heaven: and when he turned his countenance to look, all the things trembled that were seen under him.

And after this I beheld, and, lo, all they which were gathered together to subdue him were sore afraid, and yet durst fight.

And after this I beheld, and, lo, all they which were gathered together to subdue him were sore afraid, and yet durst fight.

And they were all mixed together; the blast of fire, the flaming breath, and the great tempest; and fell with violence upon the multitude which was prepared to fight, and burned them up every one, so that upon a sudden of an innumerable multitude nothing was to be perceived, but only dust and smell of smoke: when I saw this I was afraid.

And there came much people unto him, whereof some were glad, some were sorry, and some of them were bound, and other some brought of them that were offered: then was I sick through great fear, and I awaked, and said,

And there came much people unto him, whereof some were glad, some were sorry, and some of them were bound, and other some brought of them that were offered: then was I sick through great fear, and I awaked, and said,

And there came much people unto him, whereof some were glad, some were sorry, and some of them were bound, and other some brought of them that were offered: then was I sick through great fear, and I awaked, and said,

And there came much people unto him, whereof some were glad, some were sorry, and some of them were bound, and other some brought of them that were offered: then was I sick through great fear, and I awaked, and said,

For they that were not left were in heaviness.

For they that were not left were in heaviness.

Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land.

For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over.

But if I have found grace before thee, send the Holy Ghost into me, and I shall write all that hath been done in the world since the beginning, which were written in thy law, that men may find thy path, and that they which will live in the latter days may live.

Our fathers at the beginning were strangers in Egypt, from whence they were delivered:

Our fathers at the beginning were strangers in Egypt, from whence they were delivered:

Then opened I my mouth, and, behold, he reached me a full cup, which was full as it were with water, but the colour of it was like fire.

The Highest gave understanding unto the five men, and they wrote the wonderful visions of the night that were told, which they knew not: and they sat forty days, and they wrote in the day, and at night they ate bread.

And it came to pass, when the forty days were filled, that the Highest spake, saying, The first that thou hast written publish openly, that the worthy and unworthy may read it:

In his word were the stars made, and he knoweth the number of them.

My brothers were handsome and tall; but the Lord didn't take pleasure in them.

A fierce battle then took place. The men of Antiochus were prevailing. Arsinoe continually went up and down the ranks, and with dishevelled hair, with tears and entreaties, begged the soldiers to fight bravely for themselves, their children, and wives, and promised that if they proved conquerors, she would give them each two minas of gold.

It thus fell out that their enemies were defeated in hand-to-hand encounter, and that many of them were taken prisoners.

It thus fell out that their enemies were defeated in hand-to-hand encounter, and that many of them were taken prisoners.

Then they read the law to him, but he persisted in intruding, exclaiming that he ought to be allowed. He said, “Even if they were deprived of this honor, I shouldn’t be.”

He asked why, when he entered all the other temples, did none of the priests who were present forbid him.

then those who had been left behind in the city were scared, and rushed out, uncertain of the event.

New-born babes were deserted by the mothers or nurses who waited upon them—some here, some there, in houses, or in fields; these now, with an ardor which could not be checked, swarmed into the Most High temple.

Various prayers were offered up by those who assembled in this place because of the unholy attempt of the king.

Along with these there were some of the citizens who took courage and would not submit to his obstinacy and his intention of carrying out his purpose.

Calling out to arms, and to die bravely in defense of the law of their fathers, they created a great uproar in the place, and were with difficulty brought back by the aged and the elders to the station of prayer which they had occupied before.

It was you who destroyed the former workers of unrighteousness, among whom were the giants, who trusted in their strength and daring, by covering them with a measureless flood.

When you often aided our fathers when they were hard pressed and humiliated, and delivered them out of great dangers,

He proceeded to Egypt, grew worse in wickedness through his previously mentioned companions in wine, who were lost to all goodness,

“Entrance to this temple is to be refused to all those who would not sacrifice. All the Jews were to be registered among the slaves. Those who resisted are to be forcibly seized and put to death.

Some of those who were over the city, therefore, abhorring any approach to the city of piety, unhesitatingly gave in to the king, and expected to derive some great honor from a future connection with him.

who said much of the exclusiveness of the Jews with regard to their worship and meats. They alleged that they were unsociable men, hostile to the king’s interests, refusing to associate with him or his troops. By this way of speaking, they brought much hatred on them.

we resolved, not with strength of spear, but with gentleness and much humanity, as it were to nurse the inhabitants of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, and to be their willing benefactors.

To outward appearance they received us willingly, but belied that appearance by their deeds. When we were eager to enter their temple, and to honor it with the most beautiful and exquisite gifts,

they were so carried away by their old arrogance as to forbid us the entrance, while we, out of our forbearance toward all men, refrained from exercising our power upon them.

The Jews suffered great throes of sorrow and wept much, while their hearts, all things around being lamentable, were set on fire as they bewailed the sudden destruction which was decreed against them.

What home, or city, or any inhabited place, or what streets were there, which their condition didn’t fill with wailing and lamentation?

They were sent out unanimously by the generals in various cities, with such stern and pitiless feeling that the exceptional nature of the infliction moved even some of their enemies. These, influenced by sentiments of common humanity, and reflecting upon the uncertain issue of life, shed tears at their miserable expulsion.

A multitude of aged hoary-haired old men were driven along with halting bending feet, urged onward by the impulse of a violent, shameless force to quick speed.

Girls who had entered the bridal chamber quite lately, to enjoy the partnership of marriage, exchanged pleasure for misery; and with dust scattered upon their myrrh-anointed heads, were hurried along unveiled; and, in the midst of outlandish insults, set up with one accord a lamentable cry instead of the marriage hymn.

Bound and exposed to public gaze, they were hurried violently on board ship.

They were dragged along by unyielding chains, like wild animals. Of these, some had their necks thrust into the benches of the rowers, while the feet of others were enclosed in hard fetters.

They were dragged along by unyielding chains, like wild animals. Of these, some had their necks thrust into the benches of the rowers, while the feet of others were enclosed in hard fetters.

They were carried like this in this vessel, and at the end of it arrived at Schedia. The king had ordered them to be cast into the vast hippodrome, which was built in front of the city. This place was well adapted by its situation to expose them to the gaze of all comers into the city, and of those who went from the city into the country. Thus they could hold no communication with his forces. They weren’t deemed worthy of any civilized accommodation.

inasmuch as there were many still left in the land, of whom some were in inhabited houses, and others were scattered about in various places, so that all the commanders in Egypt were insufficient for the work.

inasmuch as there were many still left in the land, of whom some were in inhabited houses, and others were scattered about in various places, so that all the commanders in Egypt were insufficient for the work.

inasmuch as there were many still left in the land, of whom some were in inhabited houses, and others were scattered about in various places, so that all the commanders in Egypt were insufficient for the work.

inasmuch as there were many still left in the land, of whom some were in inhabited houses, and others were scattered about in various places, so that all the commanders in Egypt were insufficient for the work.

he commanded him, with a quantity of unmixed wine with handfuls of incense infused, to drug the elephants early on the following day. These five hundred elephants were, when infuriated by the copious drinks of frankincense, to be led up to the execution of death upon the Jews.

The middle of the tenth hour had nearly arrived, when the person who sent invitations, seeing the guests who were invited present, came and shook the king.

When the king said this, the company present were glad, and approved. Then each man went to his own home.