¹¹ Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.

⁹ For upon the first `day' of the first month began he to go up from Babylon; and on the first `day' of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.

¹¹ Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Jehovah, and of his statutes to Israel:

¹⁵ And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁶ Every scripture inspired of God `is' also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.

¹⁷ That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.

¹³ Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching.

¹⁰⁵ NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.

¹⁵ Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.

¹ The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

² To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;

³ To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity;

⁴ To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion:

⁵ That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:

⁶ To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

⁷ The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; `But' the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

⁷ I will give thanks unto thee with uprightness of heart, When I learn thy righteous judgments.

²⁴ Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God?

¹⁷ Ye therefore, beloved, knowing `these things' beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness.

¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him `be' the glory both now and for ever. Amen.

¹ My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments:

² For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee.

³ Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:

⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.

⁹⁷ Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

⁹⁸ Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me.

⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers; For thy testimonies are my meditation.

¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept thy precepts.

⁹ BETH. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed `thereto' according to thy word.

¹⁰ With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments.

¹¹ Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee.

¹² Blessed art thou, O Jehovah: Teach me thy statutes.

¹³ With my lips have I declared All the ordinances of thy mouth.

¹⁴ I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, As much as in all riches.

¹⁵ I will meditate on thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways.

¹⁶ I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

¹⁷ GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live; So will I observe thy word.

¹⁰ Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that `should come' unto you:

¹¹ searching what `time' or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.

¹² To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angel desire to look into.

²⁰ To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

⁴ For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.

³⁹ Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me;

²³ For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

¹³ Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life.