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النشر الإلكتروني

PROPHECY OF JONAS.

Jonas prophesied in the reign of Jeroboamness? of what country art thou? and whiththe second: us we learn from 4 Kings xiv.er goest thou? or of what people art thoù ? 35. To whom also he foretold his success 9 And he said to them: I am a Hebrew : in restoring all the borders of Israel. He and I fear the Lord the God of heaven, who was of Geth-Opher in the tribe of Zabulon, made both the sea and the dry land. and consequently of Galilee; which con- 10 And the men were greatly afraid: and futes that assertion of the Pharisees, John they said to him: Why hast thou done this? vii. 52. that no prophet ever rose out of (for the men knew that he fled from the Galilee. He prophesied and prefigured in face of the Lord; because he had told his own person the death and resurrection them.)

of Christ; and was the only one among 11 And they said to him: What shall we the prophets that was sent to preach to the do to thee, that the sea may be calm to us? Gentiles. for the sea flowed and swelled. 12 And he said to them: Take me up,

CHAP. I.

Jonas being sent to preach in Ninive, fleeth and cast me into the sea; and the sea shall away by sea: a tempest riseth: of which be calm to you: for I know that for my sake being found, by lot, to be the cause, he is this great tempest is upon you. cast into the sea, which thereupon is calmed. 13 And the men rowed hard to return to OW the word of the Lord came to Jo-land: but they were not able; because the sea tossed, and swelled upon them.

Now the son of Amathi, saying:

2 Arise, and go to Ninive* the great city, 14 And they cried to the Lord, and said: and preach in it: for the wickedness there- We beseech thee, O Lord, let us not peof is come up before me. rish for this man's life; and lay not upon us

3 And Jonas rose up to flee into Tharsist innocent blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done from the face of the Lord: and he went as it pleased thee.

down to Joppe, and found a ship going to 15 And they took Jonas, and cast him inTharsis: and he paid the fare thereof, and to the sea: and the sea ceased from raging. went down into it, to go with them to Tharsis from the face of the Lord.

:

4 But the Lord sent a great wind into the sea and a great tempest was raised in the sea; and the ship was in danger to be broken.

5 And the mariners were afraid; and the men cried to their god: and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship, into

16 And the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and sacrificed victims to the Lord,, and made vows.

CHAP. II.

Jonas is swallowed up by a great fish; he prayeth with confidence in God; and the fish casteth him out on the dry land. swallow up Jonas: and Jonas was in JOW the Lord prepared a great fish to

the sea, to lighten it of them: and Jonas the belly of the fish three days and three went down into the inner part of the ship, and fell into a deep sleep.‡

6 And the ship-master came to him, and said to him: Why art thou fast asleep? rise up, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think of us, that we may not perish.

7 And they said every one to his fellow Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know why this evil is upon us. And they cast lots; and the lot fell upon Jonas.

8 And they said to him: Tell us for what cause this evil is upon us? what is thy busi

nights.

2 And Jonas prayed to the Lord his God out of the belly of the fish.

3 And he said: I cried out of my affliction to the Lord; and he heard me : I cried out of the belly of hell; and thou hast heard my voice.

4 And thou hast cast me forth into the deep in the heart of the sea; and a flood hath compassed me: all thy billows and thy waves have passed over me.

5 And I said: I am cast away out of the sight of thy eyes: but yet I shall see thy

Ninive. The capital city of the Assy-holy temple again. rian empire. 6 The waters compassed me about even †Tharsis. Which some take to be Thar-to the soul: the deep hath closed me round sus of Cilicia, others to be Tartessus of about: the sea hath covered my head. Spain, others to be Carthage. 7 I went down to the lowest parts of the

A deep sleep. This is a lively image of mountains: the bars of the earth have shut the insensibility of sinners fleeing from me up for ever: and thou wilt bring up my God, and threatened on every side with his life from corruption, O Lord my God. judgments: and yet sleeping as if they 8 When my soul was in distress within

were secure.

me, I remembered the Lord: that my pray

er may come to thee, unto thy holy temple. 9 They that in vain observe vanities, forsake their own mercy.

10 But I with the voice of praise will sa

CHAP. IV.

Jonas repining to see that his prophecy is not fulfilled, is reproved by the type of the ivy. ND Jonas was exceedingly troubled,+

crifice to thee: I will pay whatsoever I have and was angry.

vowed for my salvation to the Lord.

11 And the Lord spoke to the fish:* and it vomited out Jonas upon the dry land.

CHAP. III.

2 And he prayed to the Lord, and said: I beseech thee, O Lord, is not this what I said, when I was yet in my own country? Jonas is sent again to preach in Ninive. Up- therefore I went before to flee into Tharon their fasting and repentance, God re-sis: for I know that thou art a gracious and calleth the sentence by which they were to merciful God, patient, and of much compasbe destroyed. sion, and easy to forgive evil.

AND the word of the Lord came to Jo

nas the second time, saying,

2 Arise, and go to Ninive, the great city: and preach in it the preaching that I bid

thee.

3 And now, O Lord, I beseech thee take my life from me: for it is better for me to die than to live.

4 And the Lord said: Dost thou think thou hast reason to be angry?

3 And Jonas arose, and went to Nineve 5 Then Jonas went out of the city, and according to the word of the Lord: now sat toward the east side of the city: and he Ninive was a great city of three days jour-made himself a booth there: and he sat unney.t der it in the shadow, till he might see what

4 And Jonas began to enter into the city would befal the city, one day's journey: and he cried, and said: 6 And the Lord God prepared an ivy,§ Yet forty days, and Ninive shall be de-and it came up over the head of Jonas, to stroyed. be a shadow over his head, and to cover

5 And the men of Ninive believed in him (for he was fatigued): and Jonas was God: and they proclaimed a fast, and put exceeding glad of the ivy. on sackcloth from the greatest to the least. 6 And the word came to the king of Nineve: and he rose up out of his throne, and cast away his robe from him, and was clothed with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

7. But God prepared a worm, when the morning arose on the following day: and it struck the ivy; and it withered.

8 And when the sun was risen, the Lord commanded a hot and burning wind: and 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and the sun beat upon the head of Jonas; and published in Ninive from the mouth of the he broiled with the heat and he desired king and of his princes, saying: Let neither for his soul that he might die, and said: It men nor beasts, oxen, nor sheep, taste any is better for me to die than to live. thing: let them not feed nor drink water. 9 And the Lord said to Jonas: Dost thou 8 And let men and beasts be covered think thou hast reason to be angry, for the with sackcloth, and cry to the Lord with ivy? And he said: I am angry with reason all their strength: and let them turn every even unto death. one from his evil way, and from the iniquity that is in their hands.

10 And the Lord said: Thou art grieved for the ivy, for which thou hast not labour9 Who can tell if God will turn, and for-ed, nor made it to grow, which in one night give; and will turn away from his fierce came up, and in one night perished. anger, and we shall not perish? 11 And, shall not I spare Ninive, that

10 And God saw their works, that they great city, in which there are more than a were turned from their evil way: and God hundred and twenty thousand persons, that had mercy with regard to the evil which he know not how to distinguish between their had said that he would do to them: and he right hand and their left, and many beasts? did it not.

Was exceedingly troubled, &c. His conSpoke to the fish. God's speaking to the cern was lest he should pass for a false profish, was nothing else but his will, which all phet; or rather, lest God's word, by this things obey. occasion, might come to be slighted and Of three days journey. By the compu-disbelieved. tation of some ancient historians, Ninive was § The Lord God prepared an ivy. Hedeabout fifty miles round: so that to goram. In the Hebrew it is Kikajon, which through all the chief streets and public some render a gourd; others a palmerist, or places was three days journey. "palma Christi.

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PROPHECY OF MICHEAS.

Micheas, of Morasti, a little town in the tribelled the gatet of my people even to Jerusaof Juda, was cotemporary with the prophet lem.

Isaias; whom he resembles both in his spirit 10 Declare ye it not in Geth, weep ye and his style. He is different from the pro- not with tears: in the house of Dust sprinphet Micheas mentioned in the third book of kle yourselves with dust.

Kings, chap. xxii. For that Micheas lived|| 11 And pass away, O thou that dwellest
in the days of king Achab, one hundred and in the Beautiful place,§ covered with thy
fifty years before the time of Ezechias, under shame: she went not forth that dwelleth in
whom this Micheas prophesied.
the confines: the House adjoining shall re-
ceive mourning from you, which stood by
herself.

CHAP. I.
Samaria for her sins shall be destroyed by the
Assyrians: they shall also invade Juda
and Jerusalem.

12 For she is become weak¶ unto good that dwelleth in bitterness: for evil is come HE word of the Lord that came to Mi-down from the Lord into the gate of Jerusacheas the Morasthite, in the days of lem.

THE

Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias kings of Ju- 13 A tumult of chariots hath astonished da; which he saw concerning Samaria and the inhabitants of Lachis: it is the beginJerusalem. ning of sin to the daughter of Sion; for in thee were found the crimes of Israel. 14 Therefore shall she sendff messengers

2 Hear all ye people: and let the earth give ear, and all that is therein: and let the Lord God be a witness to you, the Lord from his holy temple.

3 For behold, the Lord will come forth the destruction of Samaria shall be followIt hath touched the gate, &c. That is out of his place: and he will come down, ed by the invasion of my people of Juda: and will tread upon the high places of the and the Assyrians shall come and lay all waste even to the confines of Jerusalem.

earth.

4 And the mountains shall be melted under him and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as waters that run down a steep place.

Declare ye it not in Geth, viz. Amongst the Philistines, lest they rejoice at your calamity. Weep ye not, &c. Keep in your 5 For the wickedness of Jacob is all this, tears, that you may not give your enemies and for the sins of the house of Israel. What an occasion of insulting over you: but in is the wickedness of Jacob? is it not Sama- your own houses, or in your house of dust, ria? and what are the high places of Juda?Your earthly habitation, sprinkle yourselves with dust, and put on the habit of penitents. are they not Jerusalem?

6 And I will make Samaria as a heap of Some take the house of dust, (in Hebrew stones in the field when a vineyard is planted: Aphrah) to be the proper name of a city. and I will bring down the stones thereof & Thou that dwellest in the Beautiful place, into the valley, and will lay her foundations viz. In Samaria. In the Hebrew, the Beaubare.

7 And all her graven things shall be cut in pieces; and all her wages shall be burnt with fire; and I will bring to destruction all her idols: for they were gathered toge ther of the hire of a harlot: and unto the hire of a harlot they shall return.

8 Therefore will I lament, and howl: will go stript and naked: I will make a wail ing like the dragons, and a mourning like

the ostriches.

9 Because her wound is desperate; because it is come even to Juda: it hath touch

tiful place is expressed by the word Sapir, which some take for a proper name of a city. She went not forth, &c. i. e. They that dwelt in the confines came not forth, but kept themselves within for fear. The House adjoining, &c. viz. Judea and Jerusalem, neighbours to Samaria, and partners in her sins, shall share also in her mourning and calamity; though they have pretended to stand by themselves, trusting in their strength.

She is become weak, &c.

Jerusalem is

become weak unto any good; because she dwells in the bitterness of sin.

** It is the beginning, &c. That is, La*Her wages. That is, her donaries or chis was the first city of Juda that learnt presents offered to her idols; or the hire of from Samaria the worship of idols, and comall her traffic and labour. Of the hire of a municated it to Jerusalem.

harlot, &c. They were gathered together|| tt Therefore shall she send, &c. Lachis by one idolatrous city, viz. Samaria: and shall send to Geth for help, but in vain: for they shall be carried away to another idola- Geth, instead of helping, shall be found to trous city, viz. Ninive. be a house of lying and deceit to Israel.

to the inheritance of Geth; the houses of thoughts? Are not my words good to him lying to deceive the kings of Israel. that walketh uprightly?

15 Yet will I bring an heir to thee that dwellest in Maresa: even to Odollam shall the glory of Israel come.

8 But my people, on the contrary, are risen up as an enemy: you have taken away! the cloak off from the coat: and them that passed harmless you have turned to war. 9 You have cast out the women of my

16 Make thee bald, and be polled for thy delicate children: enlarge thy baldness as the eagle for they are carried into cap-people from their houses, in which they tivity from thee.

CHAP. II.

The Israelites by their crying injustices pro

took delight: you have taken my praise for ever from their children.

10 Arise ye, and depart; for there is no

voke God to punish them. He shall at last rest here for you. For that uncleanness of restore Jacob. the land, it shall be corrupted with a grie

70 to you that devise that which is un-vous corruption.

W profitable, and work evil in your

11 Would God** I were not a man that

beds: in the morning light they execute it, hath the spirit, and that I rather spoke a because their hand is against God. lie: I will let drop to thee of wine and of

2 And they have coveted fields, and ta- drunkenness and it shall be this people ken them by violence: and houses they upon whom it shall drop. have forcibly taken away: and oppressed a 12 I will assemble and gather together man and his house, a man and his inherit-all of thee, O Jacob: I will bring together the remnant of Israel: I will put them to

ance.

3 Therefore thus saith the Lord: Be-gether as a flock in the fold, as the sheep in hold, I devise an evil against this family the midst of the sheepcots, they shall make from which you shall not withdraw your a tumult by reason of the multitude of men. necks; and you shall not walk haughtily; 13 For he shall go up that shall open the way before them: they shall divide, and

for this is a very evil time.

4 In that day a parable shall be taken up pass through the gate, and shall come in upon you: and a song shall be sung with by it: and their king shall pass before them, melody by them that say: We are laid and the Lord at the head of them. waste and spoiled: the portion of my people is changed: how shall he depart from me, whereas he is returning that will divide our land?

5 Therefore thou shalt have none; that shall cast the cord of a lot in the assembly of the Lord.

6 Speak ye not, saying: It shall not drops upon these; confusion shall not take

them.

7 The house of Jacob saith: Is the Spirit of the Lord straitened, or are these his

:

CHAP. III.

For the sins of the rich oppressing the poor,
of false prophets flattering for lucre, and
of judges perverting justice, Jerusalem
and the temple shall be destroyed.
AND I said: Hear, O ye princes of Ja.

cob, and ye chiefs of the house of Israel: Is it not your part to know judgment, 2 You that hate good, and love evil; that violently pluck off their skins from them, and their flesh from their bones?

3 Who have eaten the flesh of my people, and have flayed their skin from off

An heir, &c. Maresa (which was the name of a city of Juda) signifies inheritance You have taken avay, &c. You have but here God by his prophet tells the Jews, even stripped people of their necessary that he will bring them an heir to take pos- garments; and have treated such as were session of their inheritance; and that the innocently passing on the way, as if they glory of Israel shall be obliged to give place, were at war with you.

and to retire even to Odollam, a city in the You have cast out, &c. either by depriv extremity of their dominions. And there-ing them of their houses; or, by your fore he exhorts them to penance in the fol-crimes, giving occasion to their being carlowing verse. ried away captives, and their children, by How shall he depart, &c. How do you that means, never learning to praise the pretend to say that the Assyrian is depart- Lord. ing; when indeed he is coming to divide] ** Would God, &c. The prophet could our lands amongst his subjects? have wished, out of his love to his people, + Thou shalt have none, &c. Thou shalt that he might be deceived in denouncing have no longer any lot or inheritance in the to them these evils that were to fall upon land of the people of the Lord. them: but by conforming himself to the

It shall not drop, &c. That is, the will of God, he declares to them, that he is prophecy shall not come upon these. Such sent to prophesy, literally to let drop upon were the sentiments of the people that them, the wine of God's indignation, with were unwilling to believe the threats of the which they should be made drunk; that is, prophets. stupified and cast down.

them; and have broken, and chopped their shall not take sword against nation : neither bones as for the kettle, and as flesh in the shall they learn war any more. 4 And every man shall sit under his vine,

midst of the pot.

4 Then shall they cry to the Lord; and and under his fig-tree; and there shall be he will not hear them: and he will hide his none to make them afraid: for the mouth face from them at that time, as they have of the Lord of hosts hath spoken. behaved wickedly in their devices.

5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god: but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

5 Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err; that bite with their teeth, and preach peace and if a man give not something into their 6 In that day, saith the Lord, I will gather mouth, they prepare war against him. up her that halteth: and her that I had cast 6 Therefore night shall be to you in-out, I will gather up; and her whom I had stead of vision, and darkness to you instead afflicted. of divination: and the sun shall go down

7 And I will make her that halted, a upon the prophets; and the day shall be remnant; and her that had been afflicted, a darkened over them. mighty nation: and the Lord will reign 7 And they shall be confounded that see over them in mount Sion, from this time visions; and the diviners shall be confound-now and for ever. ed: and they shall all cover their faces, be- 8 And thou, O cloudy tower of the flock, cause there is no answer of God.

8 But yet I am filled with the strength of the Spirit of the Lord, with judgment, and power; to declare unto Jacob his wickedness, and to Israel his sin.

of the daughter of Sion, unto thee shall it come: yea the first power shall come, the kingdom to the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 Now, why art thou drawn together with grief? Hast thou no king in thee, or is 9 Hear this, ye princes of the house of thy counsellor perished, because sorrow Jacob, and ye judges of the house of Isra- hath taken thee as a woman in labour? el: you that abhor judgment, and pervert all that is right:

10 Be in pain and labour, O daughter of Sion, as a woman that bringeth forth: for 10 You that build up Sion with blood, now shalt thou go out of the city, and shalt and Jerusalem with iniquity. dwell in the country, and shalt come even

11 Her princes have judged for bribes; to Babylon: there thou shalt be delivered; and her priests have taught for hire, and there the Lord will redeem thee out of the her prophets divined for money: and they hand of thy enemies.

leaned upon the Lord, saying: Is not the 11 And now many nations are gathered Lord in the midst of us? no evil shall come together against thee: and they say: Let her be stoned: and let our eye look upon upon us.

12 Therefore, because of you, Sion shall be ploughed as a field; and Jerusalem shall be as a heap of stones, and the mountain of the temple as the high places of the

forests.

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Sion.

12 But they have not known the thoughts of the Lord, and have not understood his counsel: because he hath gathered them together as the hay of the floor.

I

13 Arise, and tread, O daughter of Sion: for I will make thy horn iron, and thy hoofs will make brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples, and shalt immolate the spoils of them to the Lord, and their strength to the Lord of the whole earth. CHAP. V.

The birth of Christ in Bethlehem: his reign and spiritual conquests.

TOW

shalt thou be laid waste, O daughter of the robber :† they have laid siege cheek of the judge of Israel. against us: with a rod shall they strike the

2 And many nations shall come in haste, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the *Neither shall they learn, &c. The law God of Jacob: and he will teach us of his of Christ is a law of peace; and all his true ways; and we will walk in his paths: for subjects, as much as lies in them, love and the law shall go forth out of Sion, and the keep peace with all the world. word of the Lord out of Jerusalem.

t Daughter of the robber Some under

3 And he shall judge among many peo- stand this of Babylon; which robbed and pilple, and rebuke strong nations afar off: and laged the temple of God: others understand they shall beat their swords into plough-it of Jerusalem; by reason of the many rashares, and their spears into spades: nation||pines and oppressions committed there.

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