¹¹ and these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, they received the word with all readiness of mind, every day examining the Writings whether those things were so;

⁹ for on the first of the month he hath founded the ascent from Babylon, and on the first of the fifth month he hath come in unto Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him,

¹⁰ for Ezra hath prepared his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do, and to teach in Israel statute and judgment.

¹¹ And this `is' a copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commands of Jehovah, and of His statutes on Israel:

¹⁵ and because from a babe the Holy Writings thou hast known, which are able to make thee wise -- to salvation, through faith that `is' in Christ Jesus;

¹⁶ every Writing `is' God-breathed, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for setting aright, for instruction that `is' in righteousness,

¹⁷ that the man of God may be fitted -- for every good work having been completed.

¹³ till I come, give heed to the reading, to the exhortation, to the teaching;

¹⁰⁵ `Nun.' A lamp to my foot `is' Thy word, And a light to my path.

¹⁵ be diligent to present thyself approved to God -- a workman irreproachable, rightly dividing the word of the truth;

¹ Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

² For knowing wisdom and instruction, For understanding sayings of intelligence,

³ For receiving the instruction of wisdom, Righteousness, judgment, and uprightness,

⁴ For giving to simple ones -- prudence, To a youth -- knowledge and discretion.

⁵ (The wise doth hear and increaseth learning, And the intelligent doth obtain counsels.)

⁶ For understanding a proverb and its sweetness, Words of the wise and their acute sayings.

⁷ Fear of Jehovah `is' a beginning of knowledge, Wisdom and instruction fools have despised!

⁷ I confess Thee with uprightness of heart, In my learning the judgments of Thy righteousness.

²⁴ And Jesus answering said to them, `Do ye not because of this go astray, not knowing the Writings, nor the power of God?

¹⁷ Ye, then, beloved, knowing before, take heed, lest, together with the error of the impious being led away, ye may fall from your own stedfastness,

¹⁸ and increase ye in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; to him `is' the glory both now, and to the day of the age! Amen.

¹ My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,

² For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.

³ Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart,

⁶ Cut off have been My people for lack of knowledge, Because thou knowledge hast rejected, I reject thee from being priest to Me, And thou forgettest the law of thy God, I forget thy sons, I also!

⁹⁷ `Mem.' O how I have loved Thy law! All the day it `is' my meditation.

⁹⁸ Than mine enemies Thy command maketh me wiser, For it `is' before me to the age.

⁹⁹ Above all my teachers I have acted wisely. For Thy testimonies `are' my meditation.

¹⁰⁰ Above elders I understand more, For Thy precepts I have kept.

⁹ `Beth.' With what doth a young man purify his path? To observe -- according to Thy word.

¹⁰ With all my heart I have sought Thee, Let me not err from Thy commands.

¹¹ In my heart I have hid Thy saying, That I sin not before Thee.

¹² Blessed `art' Thou, O Jehovah, teach me Thy statutes.

¹³ With my lips I have recounted All the judgments of Thy mouth.

¹⁴ In the way of Thy testimonies I have joyed, As over all wealth.

¹⁵ In Thy precepts I meditate, And I behold attentively Thy paths.

¹⁶ In Thy statutes I delight myself, I do not forget Thy word.

¹⁷ `Gimel.' Confer benefits on Thy servant, I live, and I keep Thy word.

¹⁰ concerning which salvation seek out and search out did prophets who concerning the grace toward you did prophecy,

¹¹ searching in regard to what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ that was in them was manifesting, testifying beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory after these,

¹² to whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they were ministering these, which now were told to you (through those who did proclaim good news to you,) in the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, to which things messengers do desire to bend looking.

²⁰ To the law and to the testimony! If not, let them say after this manner, `That there is no dawn to it.'

⁴ for, as many things as were written before, for our instruction were written before, that through the endurance, and the exhortation of the Writings, we might have the hope.

³⁹ `Ye search the Writings, because ye think in them to have life age-during, and these are they that are testifying concerning me;

²³ For a lamp `is' the command, And the law a light, And a way of life `are' reproofs of instruction,

¹³ Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she `is' thy life.