4th April

¹ And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,² This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:³ And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:⁴ And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times:⁵ And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:⁶ And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.⁷ Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.⁸ And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.⁹ And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.¹⁰ And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever.¹¹ He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.¹² He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.¹³ Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.¹⁴ This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.¹⁵ And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean.¹⁶ And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.¹⁷ And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:¹⁸ And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave:¹⁹ And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.²⁰ But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.²¹ And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his clothes; and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even.²² And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.

¹ Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.² He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.³ In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.⁴ Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.⁵ A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.⁶ A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.⁷ Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.⁹ Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.¹⁰ The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.¹¹ The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.¹² There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.¹³ Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.¹⁴ The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.¹⁵ The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.¹⁶ A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.¹⁷ He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.¹⁸ The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.¹⁹ The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.²⁰ The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.²¹ He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.²² Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.²³ In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.²⁴ The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.²⁵ A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.²⁶ In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.²⁷ The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.²⁸ In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.²⁹ He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.³⁰ A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.³¹ He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.³² The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.³³ Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.³⁴ Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.³⁵ The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

¹ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.² Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.³ For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.⁴ Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.⁵ For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.⁶ For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.⁷ Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?⁸ This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.⁹ A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.¹⁰ I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.¹¹ And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.¹² I would they were even cut off which trouble you.¹³ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.¹⁴ For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.¹⁵ But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.¹⁶ This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.¹⁷ For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.¹⁸ But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,²⁰ Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,²¹ Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.²⁴ And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.²⁶ Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

¹ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.² Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.³ For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.⁴ But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.⁵ For every man shall bear his own burden.⁶ Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.¹⁰ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.¹¹ Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.¹² As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.¹³ For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.¹⁴ But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.¹⁵ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.¹⁶ And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.¹⁷ From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.¹⁸ Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.