16th April

¹ And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,² Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.³ And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.⁴ And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about.⁵ And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.⁶ And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.⁷ So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs.⁸ And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.⁹ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,¹⁰ Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;¹¹ Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.¹² And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.¹³ And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.¹⁴ Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.¹⁵ These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.¹⁶ And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.¹⁷ And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.¹⁸ Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.¹⁹ The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.²⁰ But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;²¹ Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.²² But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,²³ Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:²⁴ Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:²⁵ And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.²⁶ But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;²⁷ And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:²⁸ Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.²⁹ So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.³⁰ Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.³¹ Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.³² And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.³³ So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.³⁴ Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.

¹ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.² As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.⁶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.⁷ The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.⁸ As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.⁹ As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.¹⁰ The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.¹¹ As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.¹² Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.¹³ The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.¹⁴ As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.¹⁵ The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.¹⁷ He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.¹⁸ As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,¹⁹ So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?²⁰ Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.²¹ As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.²² The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.²³ Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.²⁴ He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;²⁵ When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.²⁶ Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.²⁷ Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.²⁸ A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

¹ Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.² And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.³ And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,⁴ They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.⁵ Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?⁶ This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.⁷ So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.⁸ And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.⁹ And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.¹⁰ When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?¹¹ She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.¹² Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.¹³ The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.¹⁴ Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.¹⁵ Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.¹⁶ And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.¹⁷ It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.¹⁸ I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.¹⁹ Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.²⁰ These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.²¹ Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.²² Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.²³ And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.²⁴ I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.²⁵ Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.²⁶ I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.²⁷ They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.²⁸ Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.²⁹ And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.³⁰ As he spake these words, many believed on him.³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.³³ They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?³⁴ Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.³⁵ And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.³⁶ If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.³⁷ I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.³⁸ I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.³⁹ They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.⁴⁰ But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.⁴¹ Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.⁴² Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.⁴³ Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.⁴⁴ Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.⁴⁵ And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.⁴⁶ Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?⁴⁷ He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.⁴⁸ Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?⁴⁹ Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.⁵⁰ And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.⁵¹ Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.⁵² Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.⁵³ Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?⁵⁴ Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:⁵⁵ Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.⁵⁷ Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?⁵⁸ Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.⁵⁹ Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.