from this online overview/blog -- http://www.textexcavation.com/maccabees.html
Daniel J. Harrington (Introduction to the Apocrypha) writes: "First Maccabees is part of the canon of Scripture in the Roman Catholic, Greek, and Russian Orthodox churches. It is not recognized as Scripture by Protestants and Jews. There has been, however, a puzzling ambivalence about 1 and 2 Maccabees in the Jewish tradition. Hanukkah, which celebrates the cleansing and rededication of the Jerusalem temple in 164 B.C.E. under Judas, is part of the traditional Jewish calendar of festivals. Although it is a minor holiday (except in countries where its proximity to Christmas has made it very significant), the 'biblical basis' for it lies in books not regarded as canonical. Since it is likely that 1 Maccabees was composed in Hebrew, its absence from the canon of Hebrew Scriptures is somewhat puzzling. These puzzlements have led some scholars to suspect that at some point in the first century there was a Jewish reaction against the Maccabees and what they stood for, and a deliberate attempt to push them out of the sacred tradition of Judaism. Perhaps 'messianic' claims were being made about Judas Maccabeus or some other figure who traced his ancestry back to the Maccabean movement. Perhaps in light of failed uprising against the Romans by Jews claiming to follow the example of Judas and his brothers, the custodians of the Jewish tradition found the Maccabees too controversial and dangerous. The revival of interest in the Maccabees as men of action and noble warriors in the modern state of Israel suggests that these suspicions have some basis in fact."
Thursday, September 30, 2010
New Term - Monday, October 4 -- Cases, Questions, few Answers about the U.S. Supreme Court (PBS NewsHour)
from Marcia Coyle -- correspondent for the Lehrer NewsHour on PBS -- weekdays : www.pbs.org/newshour
Do a Kansas preacher and his anti-gay followers have a constitutional right to picket and protest during the burial of a Marine who was killed in Iraq? How far can the government go in checking the background of a potential employee before violating the individual's right to privacy? And can a state restrict the sale of violent video games to minors without running afoul of the First Amendment?
The Supreme Court will face those difficult questions and others when the new term begins, as is its tradition, on the first Monday in October. Marcia Coyle, Chief Washington Correspondent for the National Law Journal and regular NewsHour analyst, recently briefed The Rundown on what she'll be watching as the term begins:
What are the key cases to watch for in the 2010-2011 Supreme Court term?
MARCIA COYLE: There are no apparent blockbusters on the docket just yet, no case that rises to the level of last term's decisions permitting corporate money to flow freely in federal elections and applying the Second Amendment right to own a gun to the states. But it's the rare term that doesn't provide some major ruling and the docket already is chock full of important and interesting cases.
How will the addition of the newest justice, Elena Kagan, impact the makeup of the court? And how will we feel the absence of Justice John Paul Stevens?
MARCIA COYLE: This term will be historic. At exactly 10 a.m. on the first Monday when the red velvet curtains behind the justices' bench part, three women for the first time in history, will step forward to take their seats. It shouldn't be a big deal in 2010 when women have taken their places in boardrooms, Congress and other critical positions. But it is a big deal in an institution that has lacked real diversity for such a long time. Something for all of us to watch is whether having three women on the Supreme Court makes a difference in any significant way. The term also will have its first non-judge justice in more than three decades. How will this non-judge justice -- former Harvard Law dean and Solicitor General Elena Kagan -- judge? How will she approach the cases before her?
And who will become the leading voice of the more liberal members of the court now that Justice John Paul Stevens, a major force by virtue of both his intellect and experience, has retired? Will it be Justice Stephen Breyer or perhaps Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg?
Do we know what the final caseload looks like yet?
MARCIA COYLE: No. What we do know so far is that the justices have agreed to hear arguments in 38 cases. That is not the final number. The justices look over petitions for review every week of the term and add cases to the argument docket until it is filled, usually by mid-January.
Do a Kansas preacher and his anti-gay followers have a constitutional right to picket and protest during the burial of a Marine who was killed in Iraq? How far can the government go in checking the background of a potential employee before violating the individual's right to privacy? And can a state restrict the sale of violent video games to minors without running afoul of the First Amendment?
The Supreme Court will face those difficult questions and others when the new term begins, as is its tradition, on the first Monday in October. Marcia Coyle, Chief Washington Correspondent for the National Law Journal and regular NewsHour analyst, recently briefed The Rundown on what she'll be watching as the term begins:
What are the key cases to watch for in the 2010-2011 Supreme Court term?
MARCIA COYLE: There are no apparent blockbusters on the docket just yet, no case that rises to the level of last term's decisions permitting corporate money to flow freely in federal elections and applying the Second Amendment right to own a gun to the states. But it's the rare term that doesn't provide some major ruling and the docket already is chock full of important and interesting cases.
How will the addition of the newest justice, Elena Kagan, impact the makeup of the court? And how will we feel the absence of Justice John Paul Stevens?
MARCIA COYLE: This term will be historic. At exactly 10 a.m. on the first Monday when the red velvet curtains behind the justices' bench part, three women for the first time in history, will step forward to take their seats. It shouldn't be a big deal in 2010 when women have taken their places in boardrooms, Congress and other critical positions. But it is a big deal in an institution that has lacked real diversity for such a long time. Something for all of us to watch is whether having three women on the Supreme Court makes a difference in any significant way. The term also will have its first non-judge justice in more than three decades. How will this non-judge justice -- former Harvard Law dean and Solicitor General Elena Kagan -- judge? How will she approach the cases before her?
And who will become the leading voice of the more liberal members of the court now that Justice John Paul Stevens, a major force by virtue of both his intellect and experience, has retired? Will it be Justice Stephen Breyer or perhaps Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg?
Do we know what the final caseload looks like yet?
MARCIA COYLE: No. What we do know so far is that the justices have agreed to hear arguments in 38 cases. That is not the final number. The justices look over petitions for review every week of the term and add cases to the argument docket until it is filled, usually by mid-January.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Apocryphal book on Hasmonean reigning families - I Maccabees then II Maccabees
From Edgar Goodspeed's page of introduction in The Apocrypha: An American Translation (1938) --
This book (First Maccabees) is the prime account of the Jewish war of independence fought against Antiochus Epiphanes; it covers the years 167 to 134 B.C. (before Christian era) Its author was apparently an eyewitness of the events and a devoted partisan of the Maccabees. But he is careful and competent as well as patriotic and devout. Although written in Hebrew, the book exhibits the characteristics of Hellenistic historiography in its emotionalism, partisanship, and use of documents; but it is nevertheless a mature and reliable work, and of high excellence both as history and as literature.
The dates in I and II Maccabees are usually given according to the Seleucid era, and can be converted to our reckoning by equating year 1 of that era to 312/311 B.C.
This book (First Maccabees) is the prime account of the Jewish war of independence fought against Antiochus Epiphanes; it covers the years 167 to 134 B.C. (before Christian era) Its author was apparently an eyewitness of the events and a devoted partisan of the Maccabees. But he is careful and competent as well as patriotic and devout. Although written in Hebrew, the book exhibits the characteristics of Hellenistic historiography in its emotionalism, partisanship, and use of documents; but it is nevertheless a mature and reliable work, and of high excellence both as history and as literature.
The dates in I and II Maccabees are usually given according to the Seleucid era, and can be converted to our reckoning by equating year 1 of that era to 312/311 B.C.
Weekend greetings -- from fellow blogger
Received from Google Mail from a fellow Http:// blogspot. com blogger --
Thanks for your well wishes and I look forward to my time with the congregation. I hope that I can bring the good news of the Gospel in such a way that new light is shed on old texts.
Shalom, D
Sent from my iPhone
September 26, 2010 -- at my email -- trs5678 @ att.net
Thanks for your well wishes and I look forward to my time with the congregation. I hope that I can bring the good news of the Gospel in such a way that new light is shed on old texts.
Shalom, D
Sent from my iPhone
September 26, 2010 -- at my email -- trs5678 @ att.net
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Preacher Gayle Miller-McKee -- Parable of Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
Today at St. John's UCC (Niles, MI 49120)
"We've all been upgraded -- from wilderness to Promised Land (Old Testament Book of Joshua): from old to new personhood (II Corinthians 5:17); from alienation to acceptance; from New & Improved to "Coming to ourselves / back to our senses" -- phrasing in the Parable by Jesus as translated . . ."
I also greeted and spoke with Kyle Gardner and his lovely wife Su (management staff at LMC Barnes & Noble Bookstore)!
"We've all been upgraded -- from wilderness to Promised Land (Old Testament Book of Joshua): from old to new personhood (II Corinthians 5:17); from alienation to acceptance; from New & Improved to "Coming to ourselves / back to our senses" -- phrasing in the Parable by Jesus as translated . . ."
I also greeted and spoke with Kyle Gardner and his lovely wife Su (management staff at LMC Barnes & Noble Bookstore)!
Early Jewish Writings: online article on "Prayer of Manasseh"
Information on Prayer of Manasseh -- Early Jewish Writings dot-com
The Prayer of Manasseh is not in the Jewish, Protestant, or Catholic canons. But it was included in later manuscripts of the Vulgate in an appendix, and it is counted among the "Apocrypha" in the King James Version and Revised Standard Version. Some Orthodox churches accept it.
James King West writes: "In II Chronicles 33:10-20 we are given an account of how the wicked king Manasseh, after being taken captive to Babylon by the Assyrians, repented and was restored to his kingdom, where he proceeded to undo much of the mischief he had done in his apostate days. Special mention is made in verses 18 and 19 of Manasseh's prayer. Since the prayer was not recorded by the Chronicler, an unknown writer of uncommon skill and piety has undertaken to supply the lack by means of this prayer." (Introduction to the Old Testament, pp. 470-471)
Daniel J. Harrington writes: "What were the words of Manasseh's prayer? Inquiring minds wanted to know. According to 2 Chronicles 33:18-19 the words were preserved in 'the Annals of the Kings of Israel' and in 'the records of the seers.' But neither of these books has been preserved. The Prayer of Manasseh represents what an anonymous author imagined that Manasseh should have said or would have said in his prayer. It was most likely composed in Greek and reflects the language and style of the Septuagint. It is included in some Septuagint manuscripts in a special section called 'Odes.' The most important versions are in Latin and Syriac, and it is included in church manuals from the third and fourth centuries C.E. (Apostolic Constitutions and Didaskalia). The earliest evidence for the work's existence comes from the third century C.E., so it could have originated at any time between the composition of 2 Chronicles and then. It was probably written by a Greek-speaking Jew outside the land of Israel, though Christian authorship is not impossible." (Invitation to the Apocrypha, pp. 166-167)
Raymond E. Brown writes: "The piety is that of late Judaism, and the deuterocanonical prayer of Azariah (Daniel 3:24-90) offers some interesting parallels. The Prayer of Manasseh was originally composed in Greek by a Jew in the 1st or 2nd cent. AD. It was promptly translated from Greek into Syriac, and thus our earliest extant form of the Prayer is in a 3rd-cent. Christian Syrian work, the Didascalia. Although the prayer did not appear in early Vulgate manuscripts., it is found in medieval mss. The Sixto-Clementine Vg printed it as a supplement (after Trent failed to list it as canonical). Protestants count it as one of 'the Apocrypha.'" (The Jerome Biblical Commentary, vol. 1, p. 541)
Daniel J. Harrington writes: "The Prayer of Manasseh purports to be the prayer uttered by Manasseh according to 2 Chron. 33:12-13 and preserved in two chronicles. Since the earliest evidence for the present text comes from the third century A.D., and the prayer was probably composed in Greek, we are most likely dealing with a pseudepigraphical work produced under Manasseh's name many centuries after his death. Since there are no discernable Christian elements, it was probably composed by a Greek-speaking Jew. It is not impossible, however, that a Christian author putting himself in Manasseh's position could have written this Jewish prayer. The author's use of phrases from the LXX suggests a date for the original composition around the turn of the era, though there is no further precision on this matter." (Harper's Bible Commentary, p. 872)
David A. deSilva writes: "The petition for forgiveness (vv. 11-13) begins with a beautiful image of humility of heart: 'I bend the knee of my heart.' This stands in marked contrast with the hubris that Manasseh displayed in his earlier disregard for God's prohibition of idolatry. Another acknowledgement of sin, 'I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned,' is poetically balanced by the supplication 'Forgive me, O Lord, forgive me' (vv. 12-13). The petition concludes by identifying God as the 'God of those who repent' (v. 13), which is an original way of describing God, a fine counterpoint to the 'God of the righteous' (v. 8) and an expression of the conviction that the God of all does not cease to be God of those who fail to walk in God's way. As their Creator and as the One who stands ready to forgive and restore those who humble themselves and turn aside from sinful ways, God remains 'their God.'" (Introducing the Apocrypha, p. 299)
The Prayer of Manasseh is not in the Jewish, Protestant, or Catholic canons. But it was included in later manuscripts of the Vulgate in an appendix, and it is counted among the "Apocrypha" in the King James Version and Revised Standard Version. Some Orthodox churches accept it.
James King West writes: "In II Chronicles 33:10-20 we are given an account of how the wicked king Manasseh, after being taken captive to Babylon by the Assyrians, repented and was restored to his kingdom, where he proceeded to undo much of the mischief he had done in his apostate days. Special mention is made in verses 18 and 19 of Manasseh's prayer. Since the prayer was not recorded by the Chronicler, an unknown writer of uncommon skill and piety has undertaken to supply the lack by means of this prayer." (Introduction to the Old Testament, pp. 470-471)
Daniel J. Harrington writes: "What were the words of Manasseh's prayer? Inquiring minds wanted to know. According to 2 Chronicles 33:18-19 the words were preserved in 'the Annals of the Kings of Israel' and in 'the records of the seers.' But neither of these books has been preserved. The Prayer of Manasseh represents what an anonymous author imagined that Manasseh should have said or would have said in his prayer. It was most likely composed in Greek and reflects the language and style of the Septuagint. It is included in some Septuagint manuscripts in a special section called 'Odes.' The most important versions are in Latin and Syriac, and it is included in church manuals from the third and fourth centuries C.E. (Apostolic Constitutions and Didaskalia). The earliest evidence for the work's existence comes from the third century C.E., so it could have originated at any time between the composition of 2 Chronicles and then. It was probably written by a Greek-speaking Jew outside the land of Israel, though Christian authorship is not impossible." (Invitation to the Apocrypha, pp. 166-167)
Raymond E. Brown writes: "The piety is that of late Judaism, and the deuterocanonical prayer of Azariah (Daniel 3:24-90) offers some interesting parallels. The Prayer of Manasseh was originally composed in Greek by a Jew in the 1st or 2nd cent. AD. It was promptly translated from Greek into Syriac, and thus our earliest extant form of the Prayer is in a 3rd-cent. Christian Syrian work, the Didascalia. Although the prayer did not appear in early Vulgate manuscripts., it is found in medieval mss. The Sixto-Clementine Vg printed it as a supplement (after Trent failed to list it as canonical). Protestants count it as one of 'the Apocrypha.'" (The Jerome Biblical Commentary, vol. 1, p. 541)
Daniel J. Harrington writes: "The Prayer of Manasseh purports to be the prayer uttered by Manasseh according to 2 Chron. 33:12-13 and preserved in two chronicles. Since the earliest evidence for the present text comes from the third century A.D., and the prayer was probably composed in Greek, we are most likely dealing with a pseudepigraphical work produced under Manasseh's name many centuries after his death. Since there are no discernable Christian elements, it was probably composed by a Greek-speaking Jew. It is not impossible, however, that a Christian author putting himself in Manasseh's position could have written this Jewish prayer. The author's use of phrases from the LXX suggests a date for the original composition around the turn of the era, though there is no further precision on this matter." (Harper's Bible Commentary, p. 872)
David A. deSilva writes: "The petition for forgiveness (vv. 11-13) begins with a beautiful image of humility of heart: 'I bend the knee of my heart.' This stands in marked contrast with the hubris that Manasseh displayed in his earlier disregard for God's prohibition of idolatry. Another acknowledgement of sin, 'I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned,' is poetically balanced by the supplication 'Forgive me, O Lord, forgive me' (vv. 12-13). The petition concludes by identifying God as the 'God of those who repent' (v. 13), which is an original way of describing God, a fine counterpoint to the 'God of the righteous' (v. 8) and an expression of the conviction that the God of all does not cease to be God of those who fail to walk in God's way. As their Creator and as the One who stands ready to forgive and restore those who humble themselves and turn aside from sinful ways, God remains 'their God.'" (Introducing the Apocrypha, p. 299)
CROP Walk (today - 2:30 p.m. Niles and Buchanan, Michigan) - Four Flags area
Four Flags Area (Niles/Buchanan) CROP Hunger Walk 2010
Date: 9/26/2010
Location: Niles, MI
Registration: 2:30 PM, Walk: 3:00 PM Grace United Methodist Church, Niles, Michigan 49120
Our online CROP Hunger Walkers have raised more than $1,135.00 so far.
With your help, we can have an even greater impact!
Contact: Rev. Rob McPherson - revrobmac@sbcglobal.net or Cathy Robison - bob1098@sbcglobal.net
Incentive Challenge: A gift of $50.00 for every sponsored walker above last years total of 105 walkers! Our goal is 125 walkers, for a $1,000.00 gift! Come walk with us! Thanks to our generous donor!
CROP Hunger Walks help children and families worldwide -- and right here in the U.S. -- to have food for today, while building for a better tomorrow. Each year some two million CROP Hunger Walkers, volunteers, and sponsors put their hearts and soles in motion, raising over $16 million per year to help end hunger and poverty around the world and in their own communities.
And you are part of it!
http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/TR/2010FallCROPHungerWalk/TeamRaiser-Fall2010?pg=entry&fr_id=5711
Date: 9/26/2010
Location: Niles, MI
Registration: 2:30 PM, Walk: 3:00 PM Grace United Methodist Church, Niles, Michigan 49120
Our online CROP Hunger Walkers have raised more than $1,135.00 so far.
With your help, we can have an even greater impact!
Contact: Rev. Rob McPherson - revrobmac@sbcglobal.net or Cathy Robison - bob1098@sbcglobal.net
Incentive Challenge: A gift of $50.00 for every sponsored walker above last years total of 105 walkers! Our goal is 125 walkers, for a $1,000.00 gift! Come walk with us! Thanks to our generous donor!
CROP Hunger Walks help children and families worldwide -- and right here in the U.S. -- to have food for today, while building for a better tomorrow. Each year some two million CROP Hunger Walkers, volunteers, and sponsors put their hearts and soles in motion, raising over $16 million per year to help end hunger and poverty around the world and in their own communities.
And you are part of it!
http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/TR/2010FallCROPHungerWalk/TeamRaiser-Fall2010?pg=entry&fr_id=5711
The Prayer of Manasseh (15-verse apocryphal work in Greek)
Translated by Edgar Goodspeed for The Apocrypha: An American Translation (1938)
Almighty Lord, God of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their upright descendants;
You who have made the heaven and the earth with all their system;
Who have fettered the sea with Your word of command;
Who have shut up the great deep, and sealed it with your terrible, glorious name;
Before whom all things shudder, and tremble before your power,
For the majesty of your glory is unbearable,
And the anger of Your threatening against sinners in unendurable,
Immeasurable and unsearchable is the mercy You promise,
For You are the Lord Most High,
Tender-hearted, long-suffering, and most merciful,
And regretful of the wickedness of men.
You therefore, Lord God of the upright,
Have not ordained repentance for the upright,
For Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who did not sin against you;
You have ordained repentance for a sinner like me [II Chronicles 33:18],
For my sins are more numerous than the sands of the sea,
My transgressions are multiplied, Lord, they are multiplied!
I am unworthy to look up and see the height of heaven,
For the multitude of my iniquities.
I am weighed down with many an iron fetter,
So that I bend beneath my sins,
And I have no relief,
Because I have provoked Your anger,
And done what is wrong in Your sight,
Setting up abominations and multiplying offenses.
Now therefore I bend the knee of my heart, begging You for kindness.
I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned,
And I know my transgressions.
I earnestly beseech you,
Forgive me, Lord, forgive me!
Do not destroy me in the midst of my transgressions!
Do not be angry with me forever and lay up evil for me,
Or condemn me to the lowest parts of the earth.
For You, Lord, are the God of those who repent,
And You will manifest Your goodness toward me,
For unworthy as I am, You will save me in the abundance of Your mercy,
And I will praise You continually as long as I live,
For all the host of heaven sings Your praise,
And Yours is the glory forever. Amen.
Almighty Lord, God of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their upright descendants;
You who have made the heaven and the earth with all their system;
Who have fettered the sea with Your word of command;
Who have shut up the great deep, and sealed it with your terrible, glorious name;
Before whom all things shudder, and tremble before your power,
For the majesty of your glory is unbearable,
And the anger of Your threatening against sinners in unendurable,
Immeasurable and unsearchable is the mercy You promise,
For You are the Lord Most High,
Tender-hearted, long-suffering, and most merciful,
And regretful of the wickedness of men.
You therefore, Lord God of the upright,
Have not ordained repentance for the upright,
For Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who did not sin against you;
You have ordained repentance for a sinner like me [II Chronicles 33:18],
For my sins are more numerous than the sands of the sea,
My transgressions are multiplied, Lord, they are multiplied!
I am unworthy to look up and see the height of heaven,
For the multitude of my iniquities.
I am weighed down with many an iron fetter,
So that I bend beneath my sins,
And I have no relief,
Because I have provoked Your anger,
And done what is wrong in Your sight,
Setting up abominations and multiplying offenses.
Now therefore I bend the knee of my heart, begging You for kindness.
I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned,
And I know my transgressions.
I earnestly beseech you,
Forgive me, Lord, forgive me!
Do not destroy me in the midst of my transgressions!
Do not be angry with me forever and lay up evil for me,
Or condemn me to the lowest parts of the earth.
For You, Lord, are the God of those who repent,
And You will manifest Your goodness toward me,
For unworthy as I am, You will save me in the abundance of Your mercy,
And I will praise You continually as long as I live,
For all the host of heaven sings Your praise,
And Yours is the glory forever. Amen.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Epistle/Letter of Jeremiah (also Baruch chapter 6)
6: 1 - 59 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
A copy of a letter which Jeremiah sent to the captives who were to be taken to Babylon by the king of Babylon, to report to them as he had been commanded by God.
Because of the sins which you have committed in the sight of God, you will be taken to Babylon as captives by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. So when you reach Babylon, you will stay there for many years, and for a long time, seven generations, but afterward I will bring you away from there in peace. Now in Babylon you will see gods made of silver and gold and wood, carried on men's shoulders inspiring fear in the heathen. So beware of becoming just like the foreigners, and being filled with awe at them, when you see the throng before and behind them worshiping them, but say in your heart, "Lord, we must worship You." For an angel is with you, and he cares for your lives.
For their tongues are polished by a carpenter, and they are gilded and silvered, but they are deceptions and cannot speak. And as though for a girl fond of ornament, they take gold and make crowns for the heads of their gods, and sometimes the priests secretly withdraw gold and silver from their gods and lavish it upon themselves, and give some of it even to the prostitutes upon the housetop. And they adorn them with clothes, like men, these gods of silver, gold, and wood, though they cannot save themselves from being corroded with rust. When they have dressed them in purple clothing, they wipe their faces because of the dust from the house which lies thick upon them. He carries a scepter like a local human judge, though he cannot destroy anyone who sins against him. He holds a dagger in his right hand and an ax, but he cannot save himself from war and robbers. Therefore it is manifest that they are not gods, so you must not stand in awe of them.
For just as a man's dish is useless when it is broken, so are their gods, when they have been set down in their houses. Their eyes are full of dust raised by the feet of those who come in. And just as the courtyard doors are shut upon a man who has offended against a king, as though sentenced to death, the priests close their houses securely with doors and locks and bars, so that they will not be plundered by robbers. They burn lamps, and more than they themselves need, though their gods can see none of them. They are just like one of the beams of the house, but men say their hearts are eaten out, and when vermin from the ground devour them and their clothing, they do not perceive it; their faces are blackened by the smoke from the temple. Bats, swallows, and birds light on their bodies and on their heads; so do cats also. Therefore you may be sure they are not gods, so you must not stand in awe of them.
As for the gold which they wear for ornament, they will not shine unless someone wipes off the rust; for even when they were being cast, they did not feel it. They are bought at great cost, but there is no breath in them. As they have no feet, they are carried on men's shoulders, thus exposing their own disgrace to men. Even those who attend them are ashamed, because if one of them falls on the ground, it cannot get up by itself. And if someone sets it up, it cannot move of itself, and if it is tipped, it cannot straighten itself up; but gifts are offered to them as if they were dead. What is sacrificed to them their priests sell and use the proceeds of; and in like manner, their wives preserve some of them, but give none of them to the poor or the helpless. A woman in her sickness or in childbed can touch their sacrifices. Threfore, being assured from these facts that they are not gods, you must not stand in awe of them.
For how can they be called gods? For women set the tables for gods of silver, gold, and wood; and in their temples the priests sit apart with their clothes torn open, and their heads and beards shaved and their heads uncovered, and they howl and shout before their gods as some do at a wake over a dead man. The priests take some of their clothes from them and put them on their wives and children. And if they experience any injury or any benefit from anyone, they cannot repay it; they cannot set up a king, or put one down. In like manner, they cannot bestow wealth or money; if someone makes a vow to them and does not fulfill it, they will not exact it. They cannot save a man from death, nor rescue the weak from the strong. They cannot restore a blind man's sight, they cannot deliver a man who is in distress. They cannot take pity on a widow, or do good to an orphan. These things made of wood and plated with gold or silver are like stones from the mountain, and those who attend them will be put to shame. Why then should anyone think them gods or call them so?
Besides, even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them, for when they see a dumb man, who cannot speak, they bring him to Bel and pray that he may speak -- as though Bel were able to understand. Yet they cannot perceive this and abandon them, for they have no understanding themselves. And the women with ropes on, sit by the wayside, burning chaff for incense, and when one of them is dragged off by one of the passersby and lain with, she derides her companion, because she has not been as much desired as herself, and has not had her rope broken. Everything that is done to them is a deception. So why should anyone think them gods, or call them so?
They are made by carpenters and goldsmiths; they can be nothing but what the craftsmen wish them to be. The very men who make them cannot last long; then how can the things that are made by them be gods? For they have only deceptions and reproach for those who come after. For when war or calamity overtakes them, the priests conslt together as to where they can hide themselves and their gods. How therefore can one fail to see that they are not gods, since they cannot save themselves from war or disaster? For since they are made of wood and covered with gold or silver, it wil eventually be found out that they are a deception. It will be evident to all the heathen and their kings that they are not gods at all but the work of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them. Who then can be ignorant that they are not gods?
For they cannot set up a king over a country, or give men rain; they cannot decide a case, or give relief to a man who is wronged; for they have no power; for like crows they are between heaven and earth. For when a temple of wooden gods, or gilded or silvered ones, catches fire, their priests flee and save themselves, but they themselves are burnt in two like beams. They can offer no resistance to a king of any enemies. Why then should anyone believe or suppose that they are gods?
Gods made of wood, silvered or gilded, cannot save themselves from thieves or robbers, and the gold and silver on them, and the clothes they have on, those who are strong enough will strip from them and carry off, and they will not be able to help themselves. So it is better to be a king who can show his courage, or a household dish, that serves its owner's purpose, thean such false gods; or even a house door that keeps what is in the house safe, than such false gods; or a wooden pillar in a palace, than such false gods. For sun, moon, and stars shine, and when they are sent to perform a service, they obey; in like manner lightning when it flashes is widely visible, and in the same way the wind blows in every land; and when God commandes the clouds to spread over the whole world, they carry out His order. And the fire sent from above to consume mountains and forests does as it is ordered. But these cannnot be compared with them in their manifestations or their powers. Therefore you must not think that they are gods, or call them so, since they are unable to decide cases or to benefit men. So as you know that they are not gods, you must not stand in awe of them./
For they can neither curse kings nor bless them; they cannot show portents in the heavens before the nations, or shine like the sun, or give light like the moon. The wild animals are better than they are, for they can flee to cover and help themselves. So in no way is it evident to us that they are gods; therefore you must not stand in awe of them.
For just as a scarecrow in a cucumber bed gives no protection, their wooden, gilded, and silvered gods are like a white thorn in a garden, on which every bird settles; and like a corpse, thrown out into the darkness. From the purple and fine linen that rot upon them, you can tell that they are not gods; and they will finally be consumed themselves and be despised in the land. An upright man who has no idols is far better, for he will be far above reproach. /
A copy of a letter which Jeremiah sent to the captives who were to be taken to Babylon by the king of Babylon, to report to them as he had been commanded by God.
Because of the sins which you have committed in the sight of God, you will be taken to Babylon as captives by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. So when you reach Babylon, you will stay there for many years, and for a long time, seven generations, but afterward I will bring you away from there in peace. Now in Babylon you will see gods made of silver and gold and wood, carried on men's shoulders inspiring fear in the heathen. So beware of becoming just like the foreigners, and being filled with awe at them, when you see the throng before and behind them worshiping them, but say in your heart, "Lord, we must worship You." For an angel is with you, and he cares for your lives.
For their tongues are polished by a carpenter, and they are gilded and silvered, but they are deceptions and cannot speak. And as though for a girl fond of ornament, they take gold and make crowns for the heads of their gods, and sometimes the priests secretly withdraw gold and silver from their gods and lavish it upon themselves, and give some of it even to the prostitutes upon the housetop. And they adorn them with clothes, like men, these gods of silver, gold, and wood, though they cannot save themselves from being corroded with rust. When they have dressed them in purple clothing, they wipe their faces because of the dust from the house which lies thick upon them. He carries a scepter like a local human judge, though he cannot destroy anyone who sins against him. He holds a dagger in his right hand and an ax, but he cannot save himself from war and robbers. Therefore it is manifest that they are not gods, so you must not stand in awe of them.
For just as a man's dish is useless when it is broken, so are their gods, when they have been set down in their houses. Their eyes are full of dust raised by the feet of those who come in. And just as the courtyard doors are shut upon a man who has offended against a king, as though sentenced to death, the priests close their houses securely with doors and locks and bars, so that they will not be plundered by robbers. They burn lamps, and more than they themselves need, though their gods can see none of them. They are just like one of the beams of the house, but men say their hearts are eaten out, and when vermin from the ground devour them and their clothing, they do not perceive it; their faces are blackened by the smoke from the temple. Bats, swallows, and birds light on their bodies and on their heads; so do cats also. Therefore you may be sure they are not gods, so you must not stand in awe of them.
As for the gold which they wear for ornament, they will not shine unless someone wipes off the rust; for even when they were being cast, they did not feel it. They are bought at great cost, but there is no breath in them. As they have no feet, they are carried on men's shoulders, thus exposing their own disgrace to men. Even those who attend them are ashamed, because if one of them falls on the ground, it cannot get up by itself. And if someone sets it up, it cannot move of itself, and if it is tipped, it cannot straighten itself up; but gifts are offered to them as if they were dead. What is sacrificed to them their priests sell and use the proceeds of; and in like manner, their wives preserve some of them, but give none of them to the poor or the helpless. A woman in her sickness or in childbed can touch their sacrifices. Threfore, being assured from these facts that they are not gods, you must not stand in awe of them.
For how can they be called gods? For women set the tables for gods of silver, gold, and wood; and in their temples the priests sit apart with their clothes torn open, and their heads and beards shaved and their heads uncovered, and they howl and shout before their gods as some do at a wake over a dead man. The priests take some of their clothes from them and put them on their wives and children. And if they experience any injury or any benefit from anyone, they cannot repay it; they cannot set up a king, or put one down. In like manner, they cannot bestow wealth or money; if someone makes a vow to them and does not fulfill it, they will not exact it. They cannot save a man from death, nor rescue the weak from the strong. They cannot restore a blind man's sight, they cannot deliver a man who is in distress. They cannot take pity on a widow, or do good to an orphan. These things made of wood and plated with gold or silver are like stones from the mountain, and those who attend them will be put to shame. Why then should anyone think them gods or call them so?
Besides, even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them, for when they see a dumb man, who cannot speak, they bring him to Bel and pray that he may speak -- as though Bel were able to understand. Yet they cannot perceive this and abandon them, for they have no understanding themselves. And the women with ropes on, sit by the wayside, burning chaff for incense, and when one of them is dragged off by one of the passersby and lain with, she derides her companion, because she has not been as much desired as herself, and has not had her rope broken. Everything that is done to them is a deception. So why should anyone think them gods, or call them so?
They are made by carpenters and goldsmiths; they can be nothing but what the craftsmen wish them to be. The very men who make them cannot last long; then how can the things that are made by them be gods? For they have only deceptions and reproach for those who come after. For when war or calamity overtakes them, the priests conslt together as to where they can hide themselves and their gods. How therefore can one fail to see that they are not gods, since they cannot save themselves from war or disaster? For since they are made of wood and covered with gold or silver, it wil eventually be found out that they are a deception. It will be evident to all the heathen and their kings that they are not gods at all but the work of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them. Who then can be ignorant that they are not gods?
For they cannot set up a king over a country, or give men rain; they cannot decide a case, or give relief to a man who is wronged; for they have no power; for like crows they are between heaven and earth. For when a temple of wooden gods, or gilded or silvered ones, catches fire, their priests flee and save themselves, but they themselves are burnt in two like beams. They can offer no resistance to a king of any enemies. Why then should anyone believe or suppose that they are gods?
Gods made of wood, silvered or gilded, cannot save themselves from thieves or robbers, and the gold and silver on them, and the clothes they have on, those who are strong enough will strip from them and carry off, and they will not be able to help themselves. So it is better to be a king who can show his courage, or a household dish, that serves its owner's purpose, thean such false gods; or even a house door that keeps what is in the house safe, than such false gods; or a wooden pillar in a palace, than such false gods. For sun, moon, and stars shine, and when they are sent to perform a service, they obey; in like manner lightning when it flashes is widely visible, and in the same way the wind blows in every land; and when God commandes the clouds to spread over the whole world, they carry out His order. And the fire sent from above to consume mountains and forests does as it is ordered. But these cannnot be compared with them in their manifestations or their powers. Therefore you must not think that they are gods, or call them so, since they are unable to decide cases or to benefit men. So as you know that they are not gods, you must not stand in awe of them./
For they can neither curse kings nor bless them; they cannot show portents in the heavens before the nations, or shine like the sun, or give light like the moon. The wild animals are better than they are, for they can flee to cover and help themselves. So in no way is it evident to us that they are gods; therefore you must not stand in awe of them.
For just as a scarecrow in a cucumber bed gives no protection, their wooden, gilded, and silvered gods are like a white thorn in a garden, on which every bird settles; and like a corpse, thrown out into the darkness. From the purple and fine linen that rot upon them, you can tell that they are not gods; and they will finally be consumed themselves and be despised in the land. An upright man who has no idols is far better, for he will be far above reproach. /
Friday, September 24, 2010
VisionWalk (5K benefit for Macular Degeneration research/cure) - Sunday at Notre Dame - details
from Katlyn Smith story (www.southbendtribune.com/ posting)
University of Notre Dame biology club will play host to the first-ever VisionWalk Sunday on campus. The 5K walk will raise money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, an organization supporting research of retinal degenerative diseases. With more than 45 other VisionWalks across the country, the event is the signature fundraiser for the foundation.
Notre Dame senior and VisionWalk chair Maria Sellers first interacted with vision issues when she visited the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, the former ND president, her freshman year. A self-described "avid reader," Sellers asked Hesburgh about the books lining his office. "He told me he loved to read, but unfortunately, he'd been losing his sight to macular degeneration," Sellers said. "Now he was mostly reading books on tape, and that had a profound effect on me and caused me to look a little more into the field of retinal diseases."
Sellers, a management consulting major and resident of Grafton, Ohio, studied in London last fall. As an intern in the financial department at London's Moorfields Eye Hospital, Sellers encountered state-of-the-art research and treatment, some of which the foundation financed.
"A father who was previously blind and hadn't been able to see since he was growing up was actually, after surgery and treatment, able to see his child being born," Sellers said.
Sellers is hopeful researchers could find a cure for some forms of blindness in 10 years or less.
"I feel like it definitely is attainable," Sellers said. "I know that areas they are having the strongest success in are LCA (Leber's congenital amaurosis) and macular degeneration."Registration for the general public is $15 and available the day of the event at noon in the Morris Inn courtyard. Registration for students is $10. The walk will begin on the South Quad at 1:30 p.m.
Speakers before the walk will include Dr. Steve Gerber of Advanced Ophthalmology of Michiana.
Sellers hopes the event will raise more than $10,000 for the foundation. Sellers said the money raised from Notre Dame's walk would not support embryonic stem cell research.
With more than 10 million Americans suffering with vision loss, Sellers said attendees will celebrate how God has graced them. "All these students and faculty and community members are going to come together, support a cause, go outside themselves and use the gifts they're given," Sellers said. "Just seeing the first event go off, I feel like, will be very rewarding."
University of Notre Dame biology club will play host to the first-ever VisionWalk Sunday on campus. The 5K walk will raise money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, an organization supporting research of retinal degenerative diseases. With more than 45 other VisionWalks across the country, the event is the signature fundraiser for the foundation.
Notre Dame senior and VisionWalk chair Maria Sellers first interacted with vision issues when she visited the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, the former ND president, her freshman year. A self-described "avid reader," Sellers asked Hesburgh about the books lining his office. "He told me he loved to read, but unfortunately, he'd been losing his sight to macular degeneration," Sellers said. "Now he was mostly reading books on tape, and that had a profound effect on me and caused me to look a little more into the field of retinal diseases."
Sellers, a management consulting major and resident of Grafton, Ohio, studied in London last fall. As an intern in the financial department at London's Moorfields Eye Hospital, Sellers encountered state-of-the-art research and treatment, some of which the foundation financed.
"A father who was previously blind and hadn't been able to see since he was growing up was actually, after surgery and treatment, able to see his child being born," Sellers said.
Sellers is hopeful researchers could find a cure for some forms of blindness in 10 years or less.
"I feel like it definitely is attainable," Sellers said. "I know that areas they are having the strongest success in are LCA (Leber's congenital amaurosis) and macular degeneration."Registration for the general public is $15 and available the day of the event at noon in the Morris Inn courtyard. Registration for students is $10. The walk will begin on the South Quad at 1:30 p.m.
Speakers before the walk will include Dr. Steve Gerber of Advanced Ophthalmology of Michiana.
Sellers hopes the event will raise more than $10,000 for the foundation. Sellers said the money raised from Notre Dame's walk would not support embryonic stem cell research.
With more than 10 million Americans suffering with vision loss, Sellers said attendees will celebrate how God has graced them. "All these students and faculty and community members are going to come together, support a cause, go outside themselves and use the gifts they're given," Sellers said. "Just seeing the first event go off, I feel like, will be very rewarding."
Rural Farm supply store -- state inspectors take all food from its shelves (Friday) after complaint
as reported by local TV / South Bend Tribune newspaper (Friday September 24)
The food at Rural King Supply has been pulled off the shelves. Inspectors from the Michigan Department of Agriculture discovered a rodent problem at Rural King Supply on Michigan 51 in Niles.
Not only that, it was selling food without a license. It all started with a complaint. The store usually provides freshly-popped popcorn at the door. But, according to a spokesperson from the Department of Agriculture, someone complained because employees were touching the popcorn with their bare hands. And when inspectors went in to investigate, they found something else too.
Inspectors from the Michigan Department of Agriculture investigated a complaint the store wasn't handling its popcorn properly. They discovered not only was the store selling food without a license, it also had "an active rodent infestation."
A spokesperson from the Department of Ag says there were mice inside the store. Inspectors seized all the infested food — it was mostly around the pet food — and they are working with the business to correct the problem. For now, the food shelves in the store are completely bare.
Robin Makepeace noticed that, but says it doesn't bother her. "I think it is pretty much expected when you handle as much farm stuff as you do. Most farms have problems with rodents too. They like all the stuff they keep in there," says Makepeace.
Rural King store manager, Rocco Rigsby says stores like this tend to have problems with mice. And he says, they are working to get a license as soon as possible so they can start selling food again. "Five years ago when we opened the store we didn't need the type of licensing that are currently required and we were not aware of the changes that were made to it. So we are working in full compliance with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Health to get this problem remedied as we speak," says Rigsby.
For now, though, customers say, they will continue to shop at Rural King. "This is one of my favorite stores. I come out there and it is like a kid in a candy store," says shopper Ron Folks.
The department of Agriculture says it's working with the store on how to rodent- proof the location. It's also educating staff on proper food handling.
The food at Rural King Supply has been pulled off the shelves. Inspectors from the Michigan Department of Agriculture discovered a rodent problem at Rural King Supply on Michigan 51 in Niles.
Not only that, it was selling food without a license. It all started with a complaint. The store usually provides freshly-popped popcorn at the door. But, according to a spokesperson from the Department of Agriculture, someone complained because employees were touching the popcorn with their bare hands. And when inspectors went in to investigate, they found something else too.
Inspectors from the Michigan Department of Agriculture investigated a complaint the store wasn't handling its popcorn properly. They discovered not only was the store selling food without a license, it also had "an active rodent infestation."
A spokesperson from the Department of Ag says there were mice inside the store. Inspectors seized all the infested food — it was mostly around the pet food — and they are working with the business to correct the problem. For now, the food shelves in the store are completely bare.
Robin Makepeace noticed that, but says it doesn't bother her. "I think it is pretty much expected when you handle as much farm stuff as you do. Most farms have problems with rodents too. They like all the stuff they keep in there," says Makepeace.
Rural King store manager, Rocco Rigsby says stores like this tend to have problems with mice. And he says, they are working to get a license as soon as possible so they can start selling food again. "Five years ago when we opened the store we didn't need the type of licensing that are currently required and we were not aware of the changes that were made to it. So we are working in full compliance with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Health to get this problem remedied as we speak," says Rigsby.
For now, though, customers say, they will continue to shop at Rural King. "This is one of my favorite stores. I come out there and it is like a kid in a candy store," says shopper Ron Folks.
The department of Agriculture says it's working with the store on how to rodent- proof the location. It's also educating staff on proper food handling.
Local CBS affiliate News anchor replies to my comment on coverage of local passing of Civil Rights pioneer / physician
from WSBT.com -- channel 22 (South Bend, Indiana)
re: Thank you for great story coverage of Dr. Chamblee -- a local civil rights icon/caregiverFriday, September 24, 2010 7 p.m.
Thanks for taking the time to email. We have fixed the errors you pointed out. Since I worked on the story today and had the opportunity to speak with the family, I feel particularly bad about the flaws in the coverage. Please always feel free to get in touch regarding our coverage.
Sincerely,
Diane Daniels
WSBT TV News
_________________________________________________________________________________
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 6:38 PM
To: WSBTNEWS-GROUP
Subject: Thank you for great story coverage of Dr. Chamblee -- a local civil rights icon/caregiver
TO: Director - news writers
That was a great piece to include in the 6 p.m. news -- he is one of the WW II generation that will be sorely missed by the family and community that loved him. Your retrospective angle was also well-put together with edits but a little blurred since your captions of who was being shown got a little out of sequence. For 10:00 news on WSBT2 and 11 news on WSBT - HD please remedy that attribution of who was interviewed two years ago as far as the on-screen caption. . .from Tim Shaw -- trs5678 @ att.net
re: Thank you for great story coverage of Dr. Chamblee -- a local civil rights icon/caregiverFriday, September 24, 2010 7 p.m.
Thanks for taking the time to email. We have fixed the errors you pointed out. Since I worked on the story today and had the opportunity to speak with the family, I feel particularly bad about the flaws in the coverage. Please always feel free to get in touch regarding our coverage.
Sincerely,
Diane Daniels
WSBT TV News
_________________________________________________________________________________
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 6:38 PM
To: WSBTNEWS-GROUP
Subject: Thank you for great story coverage of Dr. Chamblee -- a local civil rights icon/caregiver
TO: Director - news writers
That was a great piece to include in the 6 p.m. news -- he is one of the WW II generation that will be sorely missed by the family and community that loved him. Your retrospective angle was also well-put together with edits but a little blurred since your captions of who was being shown got a little out of sequence. For 10:00 news on WSBT2 and 11 news on WSBT - HD please remedy that attribution of who was interviewed two years ago as far as the on-screen caption. . .from Tim Shaw -- trs5678 @ att.net
Please sign the PETITION: to be delivered to Iran
FREE THE US HIKERS SHANE BAUER, SARAH SHOURD, JOSH FATTAL, DETAINED IN IRAN
Please sign our petition for their release, which we intend to deliver to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Mission to the United Nations:
We, the undersigned, respectfully ask the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to release Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal from detention as soon as possible and allow them to return home to their families. As an immediate step, we appeal to you to allow Shane, Sarah and Josh to speak with their families again, in order to ease the worry of their loved ones.
http://freethehikers.org/take-action/sign-the-petition/
On July 31, 2009, Shane, Sarah and Josh were hiking near the Ahmed Awa waterfall in Iraqi Kurdistan. There are conflicting news reports saying that they were taken by Iranian border guards who entered Iraqi territory and captured Shane, Sarah and Josh, or that they mistakenly crossed the unmarked border into Iran. Since then, they have been detained in Iran in near isolation from the outside world and without access to a lawyer.
Shane, Sarah and Josh were in Iraqi Kurdistan on a hiking vacation and had no intention of entering Iran. They all have great respect for different cultures and societies and for the law. If they did enter Iran, it can only have been by accident.
The families, friends and supporters of Shane, Sarah and Josh share the deep hope that the Islamic Republic of Iran will show compassion in this unfortunate case and release them as soon as possible.
Thank you.
Please sign our petition for their release, which we intend to deliver to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Mission to the United Nations:
We, the undersigned, respectfully ask the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to release Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal from detention as soon as possible and allow them to return home to their families. As an immediate step, we appeal to you to allow Shane, Sarah and Josh to speak with their families again, in order to ease the worry of their loved ones.
http://freethehikers.org/take-action/sign-the-petition/
On July 31, 2009, Shane, Sarah and Josh were hiking near the Ahmed Awa waterfall in Iraqi Kurdistan. There are conflicting news reports saying that they were taken by Iranian border guards who entered Iraqi territory and captured Shane, Sarah and Josh, or that they mistakenly crossed the unmarked border into Iran. Since then, they have been detained in Iran in near isolation from the outside world and without access to a lawyer.
Shane, Sarah and Josh were in Iraqi Kurdistan on a hiking vacation and had no intention of entering Iran. They all have great respect for different cultures and societies and for the law. If they did enter Iran, it can only have been by accident.
The families, friends and supporters of Shane, Sarah and Josh share the deep hope that the Islamic Republic of Iran will show compassion in this unfortunate case and release them as soon as possible.
Thank you.
What Americans concerned about the three hikers imprisoned in Iran can do (OPRAH website connection/link)
http://freethehikers.org/
SIGN THE PETITION
WRITE TO THE HIKERS
WRITE TO IRANIAN OFFICIALS
SUBMIT A SUPPORT VIDEO
SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS BY DONATING TO "Free the Hikers" CAMPAIGN
LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH HIKER:
Shane Bauer: Impressions
Sarah Shourd: Letters to Bean
Josh Fattal: Diary of a Journey on Pause
SIGN THE PETITION
WRITE TO THE HIKERS
WRITE TO IRANIAN OFFICIALS
SUBMIT A SUPPORT VIDEO
SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS BY DONATING TO "Free the Hikers" CAMPAIGN
LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH HIKER:
Shane Bauer: Impressions
Sarah Shourd: Letters to Bean
Josh Fattal: Diary of a Journey on Pause
Baruch - chapter 5 (this chapter is followed by "Letter of Jeremiah")
5: 1 - 9 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
Take off the clothes of your sorrow and your harsh treatment, Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory that is from God. Put on the cloak of the uprightness that is from God, put on your head the headdress of the glory of the Everlasting. For God will show your splendor to all that is under heaven. For your name will forever be called by God The Peace of Uprightness and the Glory of Godliness. Arise, Jerusalem, and stand upon the height, and look away to the east, and see your children gathered from the setting of the sun to its rising, at the command of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. For they went forth from you being led away on foot by their enemies, but God will bring them in to you carried aloft in glory, like a royal throne. For God has ordained that every high mountain and the everlasting hills shall be made low, and the valleys filled up to make level ground, so that Israel may go safely, to the glory of God. And the woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel, at God's command, for God will lead Israel with joy, by the light of his glory, with the mercy and uprightness that come from him.
Take off the clothes of your sorrow and your harsh treatment, Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory that is from God. Put on the cloak of the uprightness that is from God, put on your head the headdress of the glory of the Everlasting. For God will show your splendor to all that is under heaven. For your name will forever be called by God The Peace of Uprightness and the Glory of Godliness. Arise, Jerusalem, and stand upon the height, and look away to the east, and see your children gathered from the setting of the sun to its rising, at the command of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. For they went forth from you being led away on foot by their enemies, but God will bring them in to you carried aloft in glory, like a royal throne. For God has ordained that every high mountain and the everlasting hills shall be made low, and the valleys filled up to make level ground, so that Israel may go safely, to the glory of God. And the woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel, at God's command, for God will lead Israel with joy, by the light of his glory, with the mercy and uprightness that come from him.
Baruch - chapter 4
4: 1 - 37 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
This is the book of the commandments of God, and the Law, that will endure forever. All those who hold fast to it will live, but those who forsake it will die. Come back, Jacob, and take hold of it; approach the radiance from her light. Do not give your glory to another, and your benefits to an alien people. Blessed are we, Israel, because we know the things that please God.
Have no fear, my people, for the memorial of Israel; you have been sold to the heathen, not to be destroyed, but because you had angered God you were handed over to your adversaries. For you provoked Him who made you by sacrificing to demons, and not to God. You forgot the everlasting God, who had brought you up, and you grieved Jerusalem, that had reared you, for she saw the anger that has come upon you from God and said, "Listen, you women who live in Zion. God has brought great sorrow upon me. For I have witnessed the capture of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting has brought upon them. For I nursed them in gladness, but I have sent them away with weeping and sorrow. Let no one exult over a widow like me, forsaken by so many; I have been left desolate because of the sins of my children, because they turned away from the Law of God. But they would not learn His ordinances, or walk in the ways of God's commands, or follow the paths of correction in His uprightness. Let the women who live in Zion come, and remember the taking captive of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting has brought upon them. For He brought a nation from far away against them, a ruthless nation, of strange speech, who had no respect for an old man and no pity for a child, and they led the widow's beloved sons away, and left the lonely woman bereft of her daughters.
"But how can I help you? For He who has brought these calamities upon you will deliver you from the hands of your enemies. Go, my children, go, for I am left desolate. I have taken off the clothing of peace, and put on the sackcloth of my supplication; I will cry out to the Everlasting all my days. Have courage, my children, cry out to God, and He will save you from subjection, from the hands of your enemies; for I have set on the Everlasting my hope that He will save you, and joy has come to me from the Holy One for the mercy which will soon come to you, from your everlasting Savior. For I sent you out with sorrow and weeping, but God will give you back to me with joy and gladness forever. For just as the women who live in Zion have just now seen your deportation, so they will soon see your deliverance come from your God, whilc will come upon you with the great glory and splendor of the Everlasting. My children, endure patiently the anger that has come upon you from God, for your enemy has overtaken you; but you will soon witness his destruction, and put your feet upon their necks. My luxurious ones have traveled rough roads, they have been taken away like a flock caried off by enemies. Have courage, my children, and cry out to God, for you will be remembered by Him who brought this upon you. For as the thought once came to you to go astray from God, you must return and seek Him with tenfold fervor. For He who has brought these calamities upon you will bring you everlasting joy with your deliverance."
Take courage, Jerusalem, for He who named you will comfort you. Those who did you harm and rejoiced at your fall will be miserable; the towns which enslaved your children will be miserable; she who received your sons will be miserable. For as she rejoiced at your fall, and was glad of your ruin, so she shall be grieved at her own desolation. And I will take away her exultation in her great population, and her boasting will be turned to sorrow. For from the Everlasting fire will descend upon her for many days, and she will be a habitation of demons for a long time. Look away eastward, Jerusalem, and see the gladness that is coming to you from God. See, your sons are coming, whom you sent away, they are coming, gathered from east to west, at the command of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.
This is the book of the commandments of God, and the Law, that will endure forever. All those who hold fast to it will live, but those who forsake it will die. Come back, Jacob, and take hold of it; approach the radiance from her light. Do not give your glory to another, and your benefits to an alien people. Blessed are we, Israel, because we know the things that please God.
Have no fear, my people, for the memorial of Israel; you have been sold to the heathen, not to be destroyed, but because you had angered God you were handed over to your adversaries. For you provoked Him who made you by sacrificing to demons, and not to God. You forgot the everlasting God, who had brought you up, and you grieved Jerusalem, that had reared you, for she saw the anger that has come upon you from God and said, "Listen, you women who live in Zion. God has brought great sorrow upon me. For I have witnessed the capture of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting has brought upon them. For I nursed them in gladness, but I have sent them away with weeping and sorrow. Let no one exult over a widow like me, forsaken by so many; I have been left desolate because of the sins of my children, because they turned away from the Law of God. But they would not learn His ordinances, or walk in the ways of God's commands, or follow the paths of correction in His uprightness. Let the women who live in Zion come, and remember the taking captive of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting has brought upon them. For He brought a nation from far away against them, a ruthless nation, of strange speech, who had no respect for an old man and no pity for a child, and they led the widow's beloved sons away, and left the lonely woman bereft of her daughters.
"But how can I help you? For He who has brought these calamities upon you will deliver you from the hands of your enemies. Go, my children, go, for I am left desolate. I have taken off the clothing of peace, and put on the sackcloth of my supplication; I will cry out to the Everlasting all my days. Have courage, my children, cry out to God, and He will save you from subjection, from the hands of your enemies; for I have set on the Everlasting my hope that He will save you, and joy has come to me from the Holy One for the mercy which will soon come to you, from your everlasting Savior. For I sent you out with sorrow and weeping, but God will give you back to me with joy and gladness forever. For just as the women who live in Zion have just now seen your deportation, so they will soon see your deliverance come from your God, whilc will come upon you with the great glory and splendor of the Everlasting. My children, endure patiently the anger that has come upon you from God, for your enemy has overtaken you; but you will soon witness his destruction, and put your feet upon their necks. My luxurious ones have traveled rough roads, they have been taken away like a flock caried off by enemies. Have courage, my children, and cry out to God, for you will be remembered by Him who brought this upon you. For as the thought once came to you to go astray from God, you must return and seek Him with tenfold fervor. For He who has brought these calamities upon you will bring you everlasting joy with your deliverance."
Take courage, Jerusalem, for He who named you will comfort you. Those who did you harm and rejoiced at your fall will be miserable; the towns which enslaved your children will be miserable; she who received your sons will be miserable. For as she rejoiced at your fall, and was glad of your ruin, so she shall be grieved at her own desolation. And I will take away her exultation in her great population, and her boasting will be turned to sorrow. For from the Everlasting fire will descend upon her for many days, and she will be a habitation of demons for a long time. Look away eastward, Jerusalem, and see the gladness that is coming to you from God. See, your sons are coming, whom you sent away, they are coming, gathered from east to west, at the command of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Baruch - chapter 3
3: 1 - 37 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
"O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, the soul in anguish and the wearied spirit cry out to You. Listen, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned in Your sight. For You abide forever, and we perish forever. O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, hear the prayer of the dead in Israel, and of the sons of those who sinned in Your sight, who did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, so that calamities have pursued us. Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers, but remember Your power and Your name at this time, for You are the Lord our God, and we will praise You, O Lord. For You have put Your fear into our hearts for this reason, that we should call upon Your name, and we will praise You in our exile, for we have put out of our hearts all the iniquity of our forefathers, who sinned in Your sight. Here we are today in exile, where You have scattered us, to be reproached and cursed and condemned for all the iniquities of our forefathers who rebelled against the Lord our God."
Hear the commandments of life, O Israel; Listen, and learn wisdom.Why is it, Israel, that you are in the land of your enemies, that you have grown old in a strange land, that you have been polluted with the dead, that you are counted among those in Hades? You have forsaken the spring of wisdom. If you had walked in the way of God, you would have lived in peace forever. Learn where wisdom is, where strength is, where understanding is, so that you may at the same time learn where length of days and life are, where there is light for the eyes, and peace. Who can find her location, and who can get into her storehouses? Where are the rulers of the heathen, and those who master the animals of the earth, who have their sport with the wild birds, and lay up silver and gold, in which men trust, and have property without end; who work in silver and anxious care, and whose works defy investigation? They have vanished and gone to Hades, and others have taken their places. A younger generation has seen the light and settled on the earth, but they have not learned the way to knowledge, nor understood its paths, nor laid hold of it. Their sons have strayed far out of their way; it was never heard of in Canaan, or seen in Teman; the sons of Hagar, who seek for understanding on the earth, the merchants of Merran and Teman, the story-tellers and the searchers for understanding have not found the way to wisdom, or remembered its paths.
O Israel, how great is the house of God, and how vast the region that He possesses! It is great, it has no end; it is immeasurably high. There were born the giants, famous of old, tall in stature, expert in war. God did not choose them or give them the way of knowledge. So they perished, because they had no understanding; they perished through their own folly. Who ever went up to heaven and got her, and brought her down from the clouds? Who ever crossed the sea and found her, and will buy her with fine gold? No one knows the way to her, He has discovered her through His understanding. He who created the earth forever, filled it with four-footed creatures; He who sends forth the light, and it goes; He called it, and it obeyed Him in fear; the stars shone in their watches, and were glad; He called them, and they said, "Here we are!" They shone with gladness for Him who made them. He is our God; no other can be compared with Him! He has found out the whole way to knowledge, and has given it to Jacob his servant and to Israel, whom He loved. After that, she appeared on the earth and mingled with men.
"O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, the soul in anguish and the wearied spirit cry out to You. Listen, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned in Your sight. For You abide forever, and we perish forever. O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, hear the prayer of the dead in Israel, and of the sons of those who sinned in Your sight, who did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, so that calamities have pursued us. Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers, but remember Your power and Your name at this time, for You are the Lord our God, and we will praise You, O Lord. For You have put Your fear into our hearts for this reason, that we should call upon Your name, and we will praise You in our exile, for we have put out of our hearts all the iniquity of our forefathers, who sinned in Your sight. Here we are today in exile, where You have scattered us, to be reproached and cursed and condemned for all the iniquities of our forefathers who rebelled against the Lord our God."
Hear the commandments of life, O Israel; Listen, and learn wisdom.Why is it, Israel, that you are in the land of your enemies, that you have grown old in a strange land, that you have been polluted with the dead, that you are counted among those in Hades? You have forsaken the spring of wisdom. If you had walked in the way of God, you would have lived in peace forever. Learn where wisdom is, where strength is, where understanding is, so that you may at the same time learn where length of days and life are, where there is light for the eyes, and peace. Who can find her location, and who can get into her storehouses? Where are the rulers of the heathen, and those who master the animals of the earth, who have their sport with the wild birds, and lay up silver and gold, in which men trust, and have property without end; who work in silver and anxious care, and whose works defy investigation? They have vanished and gone to Hades, and others have taken their places. A younger generation has seen the light and settled on the earth, but they have not learned the way to knowledge, nor understood its paths, nor laid hold of it. Their sons have strayed far out of their way; it was never heard of in Canaan, or seen in Teman; the sons of Hagar, who seek for understanding on the earth, the merchants of Merran and Teman, the story-tellers and the searchers for understanding have not found the way to wisdom, or remembered its paths.
O Israel, how great is the house of God, and how vast the region that He possesses! It is great, it has no end; it is immeasurably high. There were born the giants, famous of old, tall in stature, expert in war. God did not choose them or give them the way of knowledge. So they perished, because they had no understanding; they perished through their own folly. Who ever went up to heaven and got her, and brought her down from the clouds? Who ever crossed the sea and found her, and will buy her with fine gold? No one knows the way to her, He has discovered her through His understanding. He who created the earth forever, filled it with four-footed creatures; He who sends forth the light, and it goes; He called it, and it obeyed Him in fear; the stars shone in their watches, and were glad; He called them, and they said, "Here we are!" They shone with gladness for Him who made them. He is our God; no other can be compared with Him! He has found out the whole way to knowledge, and has given it to Jacob his servant and to Israel, whom He loved. After that, she appeared on the earth and mingled with men.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Baruch - chapter 2
2: 1 - 35 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
So the Lord made good His word which He uttered against us, and against our judges who judged Israel, and against our kings and against our officials and against the men of Israel and Judah. Nowhere under heaven have such calamities occurred as He has brought upon Jerusalem, as it was written in the Law of Moses, so that one of us ate the flesh of his son, and another of us ate the flesh of his daughter. The Lord has made us subject to all the kingdoms around us, to be a reproach and a desolation among all the people about us, where the Lord has scattered them. They were brought low and not raised up, because we had sinned against the Lord our God, in not obeying His voice.
Uprightness belongs to the Lord our God, but confusion of face befits us and our forefathers, as it does this day. All the calamities with which the Lord threatened us have overtaken us. Yet, we have not besought the Lord by turning away, each of us, from the designs of his wicked heart. And the Lord has watched for theses calamities and has brought them upon us, for the Lord is upright in all His doings which He has commanded us to imitate. Yet we have not obeyed His voice and followed the Lord's commands, which He has set before us.
And now, Lord God of Israel, who brought Your people out of Egypt with a strong hand and with portents and wonders, and with great power and an uplifted arm, and made yourself such a name as Yours is today, we have sinned, we have been ungodly, we have done wrong, Lord our God, in the face of all Your ordinances. Let Your anger be turned away from us, for few of us are left, among the heathen, where You have scattered us. Listen, Lord, to our prayer and our petition, and for Your sake deliver us, and grant us favor in the eyes of those who have led us into captivity, so that the whole earth may know that You are the Lord our God, for Israel and his descendants are called by Your name. Lord, look down from Your holy dwelling, and think about us. Turn Your ear to us, Lord, and hear us; open Your eyes and see; for the dead, who are in Hades, whose breath has been taken from their bodies, cannot ascribe glory and uprightness to the Lord, but the soul that grieves greatly, that goes about bent over and sick, with failing sight -- the soul that hungers will ascribe glory and uprightness to You, Lord. For it is not for the upright acts of our forefathers and of our kings that we present our prayer for pity before, You, O Lord our God. For You have inflicted Your anger and Your wrath upon us, just as You promised through Your servants the prophets to do, when You said, "Thus says the Lord: Bow your shoulders and work for the king of Babylon, and stay in the land which I gave to the king of Babylon, and stay in the land which I gave to your forefathers. But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, and serve the king of Babylon, I will put an end to the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the voice of bridegroom and the voice of bride, in the towns of Judah and in Jerusalem, and the whole country will become untrodden and uninhabited.
But we did not obey Your voice and serve the King of Babylon, and Your made good Your words that You had spoken throught Your servants the prophets, that the bones of our kings and the bones of our forefathers should be taken out of their places, and behold they are thrown out to the heat by day and to the frost by night; and they perished in great misery, by famine and the sword and expulsion. And the house that was called by Your name You have made as it is today, because of the wickedness of the house of Israel and the house of Judgah. Yet You have dealt with us, O Lord our God, with all Your forbearance and all Your great compassion, as You promised through Your servant Moses to do, when You commanded him to write the Law before the sins of Israel, and said, "Unless you obey my voice, this great buzzing multitude will surely turn into a small number among the heathen where I will scatter them. For I know that they will not listen to me, for they are a stiff-necked people. But in the land to which they are carried away they will come to themselves, and they will know that I am the Lord their God. I will give them minds and ears to listetn, and they will praise Me in the land to which they are carried away, and they will remember My name, and they will turn from their obstinacy and their wicked doings, for they will remember what befell their forefathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and they will possess it; and I will multiply them and they will not be despised. And I will make an everlasting agreement with them that I shall be their God and they shall be My people. And I will never again remove My people Israel from the land which I have given them."
So the Lord made good His word which He uttered against us, and against our judges who judged Israel, and against our kings and against our officials and against the men of Israel and Judah. Nowhere under heaven have such calamities occurred as He has brought upon Jerusalem, as it was written in the Law of Moses, so that one of us ate the flesh of his son, and another of us ate the flesh of his daughter. The Lord has made us subject to all the kingdoms around us, to be a reproach and a desolation among all the people about us, where the Lord has scattered them. They were brought low and not raised up, because we had sinned against the Lord our God, in not obeying His voice.
Uprightness belongs to the Lord our God, but confusion of face befits us and our forefathers, as it does this day. All the calamities with which the Lord threatened us have overtaken us. Yet, we have not besought the Lord by turning away, each of us, from the designs of his wicked heart. And the Lord has watched for theses calamities and has brought them upon us, for the Lord is upright in all His doings which He has commanded us to imitate. Yet we have not obeyed His voice and followed the Lord's commands, which He has set before us.
And now, Lord God of Israel, who brought Your people out of Egypt with a strong hand and with portents and wonders, and with great power and an uplifted arm, and made yourself such a name as Yours is today, we have sinned, we have been ungodly, we have done wrong, Lord our God, in the face of all Your ordinances. Let Your anger be turned away from us, for few of us are left, among the heathen, where You have scattered us. Listen, Lord, to our prayer and our petition, and for Your sake deliver us, and grant us favor in the eyes of those who have led us into captivity, so that the whole earth may know that You are the Lord our God, for Israel and his descendants are called by Your name. Lord, look down from Your holy dwelling, and think about us. Turn Your ear to us, Lord, and hear us; open Your eyes and see; for the dead, who are in Hades, whose breath has been taken from their bodies, cannot ascribe glory and uprightness to the Lord, but the soul that grieves greatly, that goes about bent over and sick, with failing sight -- the soul that hungers will ascribe glory and uprightness to You, Lord. For it is not for the upright acts of our forefathers and of our kings that we present our prayer for pity before, You, O Lord our God. For You have inflicted Your anger and Your wrath upon us, just as You promised through Your servants the prophets to do, when You said, "Thus says the Lord: Bow your shoulders and work for the king of Babylon, and stay in the land which I gave to the king of Babylon, and stay in the land which I gave to your forefathers. But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, and serve the king of Babylon, I will put an end to the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the voice of bridegroom and the voice of bride, in the towns of Judah and in Jerusalem, and the whole country will become untrodden and uninhabited.
But we did not obey Your voice and serve the King of Babylon, and Your made good Your words that You had spoken throught Your servants the prophets, that the bones of our kings and the bones of our forefathers should be taken out of their places, and behold they are thrown out to the heat by day and to the frost by night; and they perished in great misery, by famine and the sword and expulsion. And the house that was called by Your name You have made as it is today, because of the wickedness of the house of Israel and the house of Judgah. Yet You have dealt with us, O Lord our God, with all Your forbearance and all Your great compassion, as You promised through Your servant Moses to do, when You commanded him to write the Law before the sins of Israel, and said, "Unless you obey my voice, this great buzzing multitude will surely turn into a small number among the heathen where I will scatter them. For I know that they will not listen to me, for they are a stiff-necked people. But in the land to which they are carried away they will come to themselves, and they will know that I am the Lord their God. I will give them minds and ears to listetn, and they will praise Me in the land to which they are carried away, and they will remember My name, and they will turn from their obstinacy and their wicked doings, for they will remember what befell their forefathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and they will possess it; and I will multiply them and they will not be despised. And I will make an everlasting agreement with them that I shall be their God and they shall be My people. And I will never again remove My people Israel from the land which I have given them."
Sunday, September 19, 2010
An introduction to the Book of Baruch (website for New American translation) - outline
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/baruch/intro.htm (Catholic "Conference of U.S. Bishops")
The opening verses of this book ascribe it, or at least its first part, to Baruch, the well-known secretary of the prophet Jeremiah. It contains five very different compositions, the first and the last in prose, the others in poetic form. The prose sections were certainly composed in Hebrew, though the earliest known form of the book is in Greek.
An observance of the feast of Booths with a public prayer of penitence and petition (Baruch 1:15-3:8), such as is supposed by the introduction (Baruch 1:1-14), would not have been possible during the lifetime of Baruch after the fall of Jerusalem; this indeed is suggested in the prayer itself (Baruch 2:26). The prayer is therefore to be understood as the pious reflection of a later Jewish writer upon the circumstances of the exiles in Babylon as he knew them from the Book of Jeremiah. He expresses in their name sentiments called for by the prophet, and ascribes the wording of these sentiments to the person most intimately acquainted with Jeremiah's teaching, namely, Baruch. The purpose of this literary device is to portray for his own and later generations the spirit of repentance which prompted God to bring the exile to an end.
The lesson thus gained is followed by a hymn in praise of Wisdom (Baruch 3:9-4:4), exalting the law of Moses as the unique gift of God to Israel, the observance of which is the way to life and peace. The ideal city of Jerusalem is then represented (Baruch 4:5-29) as the solicitous mother of all exiles, who is assured in the name of God that all her children will be restored to her (Baruch 4:30-5:9).
The final chapter is really a separate work, with a title of its own (Baruch 6:1). It is patterned after the earlier letter of Jeremiah (Jer 29), in the spirit of the warnings against idolatry contained in Jer 10 and Isa 44. Its earnestness is impressive, but in restating previous inspired teachings at a later day, it does so with no special literary grace.
The opening verses of this book ascribe it, or at least its first part, to Baruch, the well-known secretary of the prophet Jeremiah. It contains five very different compositions, the first and the last in prose, the others in poetic form. The prose sections were certainly composed in Hebrew, though the earliest known form of the book is in Greek.
An observance of the feast of Booths with a public prayer of penitence and petition (Baruch 1:15-3:8), such as is supposed by the introduction (Baruch 1:1-14), would not have been possible during the lifetime of Baruch after the fall of Jerusalem; this indeed is suggested in the prayer itself (Baruch 2:26). The prayer is therefore to be understood as the pious reflection of a later Jewish writer upon the circumstances of the exiles in Babylon as he knew them from the Book of Jeremiah. He expresses in their name sentiments called for by the prophet, and ascribes the wording of these sentiments to the person most intimately acquainted with Jeremiah's teaching, namely, Baruch. The purpose of this literary device is to portray for his own and later generations the spirit of repentance which prompted God to bring the exile to an end.
The lesson thus gained is followed by a hymn in praise of Wisdom (Baruch 3:9-4:4), exalting the law of Moses as the unique gift of God to Israel, the observance of which is the way to life and peace. The ideal city of Jerusalem is then represented (Baruch 4:5-29) as the solicitous mother of all exiles, who is assured in the name of God that all her children will be restored to her (Baruch 4:30-5:9).
The final chapter is really a separate work, with a title of its own (Baruch 6:1). It is patterned after the earlier letter of Jeremiah (Jer 29), in the spirit of the warnings against idolatry contained in Jer 10 and Isa 44. Its earnestness is impressive, but in restating previous inspired teachings at a later day, it does so with no special literary grace.
Baruch - deuterocanonical book (Greek language)
1: 1-22 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
"These are the words of the book that Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, the son of Zedekiah, the son of Hasadiah, the son of Hilkiah, wrote in Babylon, in the fifth year, on the seventh day of the month, at the time when the Chaldeans took Jerusalem and burned it with fire. And Baruch read the words of this book in the hearing of Jeconiah, the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, in the hearing of all the people who came to hear the book read, and in the hearing of the nobles, and the princes, and in the hearing of the elders, and in the hearing of all the people, small and great -- in fact, of all who lived in Babylon, by the River Sud. Then they wept, and each one giving what he could, and they sent it to Jerusalem, to Jehoiakim the high priest, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, and to the priests, and to all the people that were found with him in Jerusalem, when he took the plate of the house of the Lord that had been carried away from the temple, to return it to the land of Judah -- the silver dishes which Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, had made, after Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had carried off Jeconiah and the officers and captives and nobles and the common people from Jerusalem, and taken him to Babylon. And they said, "Here we send you money, so buy with the money burnt offerings and sin offerings and incense and prepare a grain offering, and offer them upon the altar of the Lord our God and pray for the life of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and for the life of Belshazzar his son, that their days may be like the days of heaven, upon the earth. And the Lord will give us strength, and He will give sight to our eyes, and we will live under the shadow of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and under the shadow of Belshazzar his son, and we will serve them for a long time and find favor in their sight. Pray for us to the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the Lord our God, and to this day the anger of the Lord and His wrath have not turned away from us. So read this scroll, which we send to you, to make your confession in the house of the Lord, on festival days and on days of assembly. And you shall say, "Uprightness belongs to the Lord our God, but confusion of face, as on this day, befits us, the men of Judah, and the residents of Jerusalem, and our kings and our officials, and our priests and our prophets, and our forefathers; for we have sinned before the Lord, and disobeyed him and we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, so as to follow the commands of the Lord which He set before us. From the day when the Lord brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, until today, we have been disobedient to the Lord our God, and we have been neglectful in not obeying His voice. And misfortunes have attended us, and the curse has come upon us which the Lord agreed upon with Moses His servant, on the days when the Lord brought our forefathers out of the land of Egypt, to give us a land that ran with milk and honey, as they have this day. And we did not obey the voice of the Lord our God, expressed in all the words of the prophets whom He sent to us, but we followed each one the design of his own wicked heart so as to serve other gods, and do what was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God."
"These are the words of the book that Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, the son of Zedekiah, the son of Hasadiah, the son of Hilkiah, wrote in Babylon, in the fifth year, on the seventh day of the month, at the time when the Chaldeans took Jerusalem and burned it with fire. And Baruch read the words of this book in the hearing of Jeconiah, the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, in the hearing of all the people who came to hear the book read, and in the hearing of the nobles, and the princes, and in the hearing of the elders, and in the hearing of all the people, small and great -- in fact, of all who lived in Babylon, by the River Sud. Then they wept, and each one giving what he could, and they sent it to Jerusalem, to Jehoiakim the high priest, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, and to the priests, and to all the people that were found with him in Jerusalem, when he took the plate of the house of the Lord that had been carried away from the temple, to return it to the land of Judah -- the silver dishes which Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, had made, after Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had carried off Jeconiah and the officers and captives and nobles and the common people from Jerusalem, and taken him to Babylon. And they said, "Here we send you money, so buy with the money burnt offerings and sin offerings and incense and prepare a grain offering, and offer them upon the altar of the Lord our God and pray for the life of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and for the life of Belshazzar his son, that their days may be like the days of heaven, upon the earth. And the Lord will give us strength, and He will give sight to our eyes, and we will live under the shadow of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and under the shadow of Belshazzar his son, and we will serve them for a long time and find favor in their sight. Pray for us to the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the Lord our God, and to this day the anger of the Lord and His wrath have not turned away from us. So read this scroll, which we send to you, to make your confession in the house of the Lord, on festival days and on days of assembly. And you shall say, "Uprightness belongs to the Lord our God, but confusion of face, as on this day, befits us, the men of Judah, and the residents of Jerusalem, and our kings and our officials, and our priests and our prophets, and our forefathers; for we have sinned before the Lord, and disobeyed him and we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, so as to follow the commands of the Lord which He set before us. From the day when the Lord brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, until today, we have been disobedient to the Lord our God, and we have been neglectful in not obeying His voice. And misfortunes have attended us, and the curse has come upon us which the Lord agreed upon with Moses His servant, on the days when the Lord brought our forefathers out of the land of Egypt, to give us a land that ran with milk and honey, as they have this day. And we did not obey the voice of the Lord our God, expressed in all the words of the prophets whom He sent to us, but we followed each one the design of his own wicked heart so as to serve other gods, and do what was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God."
Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig well -- explosion April 20 finally plugged Sept. 19, 5:54 a.m.
AP Coverage at this website =
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/blown-out_gulf_of_mexico_bp_oi.html
The well is dead. Finally.
A permanent cement plug sealed BP's well nearly 2.5 miles below the sea floor in the Gulf of Mexico, five agonizing months after an explosion sank a drilling rig and led to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the federal government's point man on the disaster, said Sunday BP's well "is effectively dead" and posed no further threat to the Gulf. Allen said a pressure test to ensure the cement plug would hold was completed at 5:54 a.m. CDT.
The gusher was contained in mid-July after a temporary cap was successfully fitted atop the well. Mud and cement were later pushed down through the top of the well, allowing the cap to be removed.
But the well could not be declared dead until a relief well was drilled so that the ruptured well could be sealed from the bottom, ensuring it never causes a problem again. The relief well intersected the blown-out well Thursday, and crews started pumping in the cement on Friday.
The April 20 blast killed 11 workers, and 206 million gallons of oil spewed.
The disaster caused an environmental and economic nightmare for people who live, work and play along hundreds of miles of Gulf shoreline from Florida to Texas. It also spurred civil and criminal investigations, cost gaffe-prone BP chief Tony Hayward his job, and brought increased governmental scrutiny of the oil and gas industry, including a costly moratorium on deepwater offshore drilling that is still in place.
Gulf residents will be feeling the pain for years to come. There is still plenty of oil in the water, and some continues to wash up on shore. Many people are still struggling to make ends meet with some waters still closed to fishing. Shrimpers who are allowed to fish are finding it difficult to sell their catch because of the perception - largely from people outside the region - that the seafood is not safe to eat. Tourism along the Gulf has taken a hit.
The disaster also has taken a toll on the once mighty oil giant BP PLC. The British company's stock price took a nosedive after the explosion, though it has recovered somewhat. Its image as a steward of the environment was stained and its stated commitment to safety was challenged. Owners of BP-branded gas stations in the U.S. were hit with lost sales, as customers protested at the pump.
And on the financial side: BP has already shelled out more than $8 billion in cleanup costs and promised to set aside another $20 billion for a victims compensation fund. The company could face tens of billions of dollars more in government fines and legal costs from hundreds of pending lawsuits.
BP took some of the blame for the Gulf oil disaster in an internal report issued earlier this month, acknowledging among other things that its workers misinterpreted a key pressure test of the well. But in a possible preview of its legal strategy, it also pointed the finger at its partners on the doomed rig.
BP was a majority owner of the well that blew out, and it was leasing the rig that exploded from owner Transocean Ltd.
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/blown-out_gulf_of_mexico_bp_oi.html
The well is dead. Finally.
A permanent cement plug sealed BP's well nearly 2.5 miles below the sea floor in the Gulf of Mexico, five agonizing months after an explosion sank a drilling rig and led to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the federal government's point man on the disaster, said Sunday BP's well "is effectively dead" and posed no further threat to the Gulf. Allen said a pressure test to ensure the cement plug would hold was completed at 5:54 a.m. CDT.
The gusher was contained in mid-July after a temporary cap was successfully fitted atop the well. Mud and cement were later pushed down through the top of the well, allowing the cap to be removed.
But the well could not be declared dead until a relief well was drilled so that the ruptured well could be sealed from the bottom, ensuring it never causes a problem again. The relief well intersected the blown-out well Thursday, and crews started pumping in the cement on Friday.
The April 20 blast killed 11 workers, and 206 million gallons of oil spewed.
The disaster caused an environmental and economic nightmare for people who live, work and play along hundreds of miles of Gulf shoreline from Florida to Texas. It also spurred civil and criminal investigations, cost gaffe-prone BP chief Tony Hayward his job, and brought increased governmental scrutiny of the oil and gas industry, including a costly moratorium on deepwater offshore drilling that is still in place.
Gulf residents will be feeling the pain for years to come. There is still plenty of oil in the water, and some continues to wash up on shore. Many people are still struggling to make ends meet with some waters still closed to fishing. Shrimpers who are allowed to fish are finding it difficult to sell their catch because of the perception - largely from people outside the region - that the seafood is not safe to eat. Tourism along the Gulf has taken a hit.
The disaster also has taken a toll on the once mighty oil giant BP PLC. The British company's stock price took a nosedive after the explosion, though it has recovered somewhat. Its image as a steward of the environment was stained and its stated commitment to safety was challenged. Owners of BP-branded gas stations in the U.S. were hit with lost sales, as customers protested at the pump.
And on the financial side: BP has already shelled out more than $8 billion in cleanup costs and promised to set aside another $20 billion for a victims compensation fund. The company could face tens of billions of dollars more in government fines and legal costs from hundreds of pending lawsuits.
BP took some of the blame for the Gulf oil disaster in an internal report issued earlier this month, acknowledging among other things that its workers misinterpreted a key pressure test of the well. But in a possible preview of its legal strategy, it also pointed the finger at its partners on the doomed rig.
BP was a majority owner of the well that blew out, and it was leasing the rig that exploded from owner Transocean Ltd.
Today I am only 1/3 free -- Sarah Shourd Press Conference NYC: others need freeing from Iran prison
POSTED Sunday Sept. 19, 2010 - at CBS News dot-com website
(CBS/AP) Arriving back in the United States today after spending 13 months in an Iranian prison with two fellow American hikers, Sarah Shourd today thanked everyone who worked help gain her freedom, but said, "I stand before you today only one-third free."
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon in New York City, Shourd appeared with her mother, Nora Shourd, and with the mothers of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, who remain jailed in Evin Prison in Tehran.
The three young people were picked up along the Iran-Iraq border last year and were accused of spying.
Shourd said that she, her fiancé Bauer and friend Fattal never spied or committed any crime, and called their arrest "a huge misunderstanding."
"This is not the time to celebrate," Shourd, 32, said in prepared remarks. "The only thing that enabled me to cross the gulf from prison to freedom alone was the knowledge that Shane and Josh wanted with all their hearts for my suffering to end."
Shourd thanked Iranians and Ahmadinejad in a carefully scripted return that spoke to the continuing delicacy of her situation. Iran has issued espionage-related indictments against her, Bauer and Fattal; the indictments could bring trials for the two men and proceedings in absentia for Shourd. But she stressed their innocence in a case that has added to the roster of tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly. He later met with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to discuss developments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East as well as efforts to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program, the U.N. spokesperson's office said.
He called Shourd's release "a huge humanitarian gesture" in an interview on "This Week with Christiane Amanpour." He called on the U.S. to release eight Iranians being detained after arrests he said were illegal.
The three Americans were detained in July 2009 after Iranian officials said they intentionally crossed the country's border from Iraq. Echoing accounts their families have given in their absence, Shourd said Sunday that the three had been hiking in a popular tourist area - near a waterfall in Iraq's Kurdistan region - and had no idea the border was nearby. "If we were indeed near the Iraq-Iran border, that border was entirely unmarked and indistinguishable," she said.
"Shane and Josh do not deserve to be in prison one day longer than I was," she said. "We committed no crime and we are not spies. We in no way intended any harm to the Iranian government or its people and believe a huge misunderstanding led to our arrest and prolonged detention."
Shourd's mother has said she had health problems including a breast lump and precancerous cervical cells. Shourd said Sunday that doctors in Oman, where she went immediately after her release, had determined she was physically well.
Officials in Oman - an ally of both Iran and the United States - mediated a $500,000 bail for Shourd that satisfied Iranian authorities and apparently did not violate U.S. economic sanctions against Iran. The source of the bail payment has not been disclosed.
Shourd and Bauer had been living together in Damascus, Syria, where Bauer was working as a freelance journalist and Shourd as an English teacher. Fattal, an environmental activist and a fellow graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, came to visit them last July, and the three went hiking.
"My hope is that by learning who we are and how we came to be in this diverse and fascinating region of the world directly from my lips, it will help clear up any doubts and end Shane and Josh's detention," Shourd said.
She added that she hoped their experience would provide "an opportunity for Americans and Iranians to realize that an improved relationship would be in the best interest of all people."
(CBS/AP) Arriving back in the United States today after spending 13 months in an Iranian prison with two fellow American hikers, Sarah Shourd today thanked everyone who worked help gain her freedom, but said, "I stand before you today only one-third free."
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon in New York City, Shourd appeared with her mother, Nora Shourd, and with the mothers of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, who remain jailed in Evin Prison in Tehran.
The three young people were picked up along the Iran-Iraq border last year and were accused of spying.
Shourd said that she, her fiancé Bauer and friend Fattal never spied or committed any crime, and called their arrest "a huge misunderstanding."
"This is not the time to celebrate," Shourd, 32, said in prepared remarks. "The only thing that enabled me to cross the gulf from prison to freedom alone was the knowledge that Shane and Josh wanted with all their hearts for my suffering to end."
Shourd thanked Iranians and Ahmadinejad in a carefully scripted return that spoke to the continuing delicacy of her situation. Iran has issued espionage-related indictments against her, Bauer and Fattal; the indictments could bring trials for the two men and proceedings in absentia for Shourd. But she stressed their innocence in a case that has added to the roster of tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly. He later met with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to discuss developments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East as well as efforts to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program, the U.N. spokesperson's office said.
He called Shourd's release "a huge humanitarian gesture" in an interview on "This Week with Christiane Amanpour." He called on the U.S. to release eight Iranians being detained after arrests he said were illegal.
The three Americans were detained in July 2009 after Iranian officials said they intentionally crossed the country's border from Iraq. Echoing accounts their families have given in their absence, Shourd said Sunday that the three had been hiking in a popular tourist area - near a waterfall in Iraq's Kurdistan region - and had no idea the border was nearby. "If we were indeed near the Iraq-Iran border, that border was entirely unmarked and indistinguishable," she said.
"Shane and Josh do not deserve to be in prison one day longer than I was," she said. "We committed no crime and we are not spies. We in no way intended any harm to the Iranian government or its people and believe a huge misunderstanding led to our arrest and prolonged detention."
Shourd's mother has said she had health problems including a breast lump and precancerous cervical cells. Shourd said Sunday that doctors in Oman, where she went immediately after her release, had determined she was physically well.
Officials in Oman - an ally of both Iran and the United States - mediated a $500,000 bail for Shourd that satisfied Iranian authorities and apparently did not violate U.S. economic sanctions against Iran. The source of the bail payment has not been disclosed.
Shourd and Bauer had been living together in Damascus, Syria, where Bauer was working as a freelance journalist and Shourd as an English teacher. Fattal, an environmental activist and a fellow graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, came to visit them last July, and the three went hiking.
"My hope is that by learning who we are and how we came to be in this diverse and fascinating region of the world directly from my lips, it will help clear up any doubts and end Shane and Josh's detention," Shourd said.
She added that she hoped their experience would provide "an opportunity for Americans and Iranians to realize that an improved relationship would be in the best interest of all people."
Church nearby 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue -- First Family takes Communion along with 40 in attendance,
From another blog here in Google (blogspot dot-com) -- Obama Foodorama --
http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2010/09/first-family-attends-church-in.html
Obamas take communion at St. John's Episcopal church
The First Family walked from the White House this morning to attend the 9:00 AM choral and Holy Eucharist at St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, which is also known as "The President's Church." It's located across Lafayette Square Park from the White House, and President Obama held daughter Sasha's hand as the family strolled across the park, accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Malia.
St. John's has a special pew for presidents, nine rows back from the altar, complete with prayer stools that have the names of former presidents embroidered in gold on the red cushions. Attendance was low at the church this morning, with about forty worshipers present. The sermon, from St. John's rector Rev. Dr. Luis Leon, focused on the parable of the dishonest steward from the Gospel of Luke, 16:1-13, which ends "You cannot serve God and wealth." (WEBSITE included photo of Episcopal priest / preacher greeting the Obama family)
Leon said the parable is an instruction to "act shrewdly on behalf of God," and that Luke is advising that listeners make choices about God and "the time to act is now." President Obama invoked the same idea--on a different subject--last night when he spoke at the Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, telling black leaders to get the vote out for midterms, because "now is the time for action."
After the sermon, the First Family, led by the President, all went up to the altar rail and took communion. St. John's has an "all access" policy for communion; you do not need to be baptized to go up to the altar, but can receive a blessing by crossing your arms over your chest while kneeling. Today was the First Family's fourth visit to St. John's; they attended just hours before President Obama's inauguration, on Easter Sunday in 2009, and again earlier this year.
The Obamas have never joined a church in Washington; the President has cited an unwillingness to disrupt any congregation by joining. St. John's Episcopal Church's history says that every president since James Madison has attended services at the church.
The First Family walked back home to the White House, following the service.
http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2010/09/first-family-attends-church-in.html
Obamas take communion at St. John's Episcopal church
The First Family walked from the White House this morning to attend the 9:00 AM choral and Holy Eucharist at St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, which is also known as "The President's Church." It's located across Lafayette Square Park from the White House, and President Obama held daughter Sasha's hand as the family strolled across the park, accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Malia.
St. John's has a special pew for presidents, nine rows back from the altar, complete with prayer stools that have the names of former presidents embroidered in gold on the red cushions. Attendance was low at the church this morning, with about forty worshipers present. The sermon, from St. John's rector Rev. Dr. Luis Leon, focused on the parable of the dishonest steward from the Gospel of Luke, 16:1-13, which ends "You cannot serve God and wealth." (WEBSITE included photo of Episcopal priest / preacher greeting the Obama family)
Leon said the parable is an instruction to "act shrewdly on behalf of God," and that Luke is advising that listeners make choices about God and "the time to act is now." President Obama invoked the same idea--on a different subject--last night when he spoke at the Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, telling black leaders to get the vote out for midterms, because "now is the time for action."
After the sermon, the First Family, led by the President, all went up to the altar rail and took communion. St. John's has an "all access" policy for communion; you do not need to be baptized to go up to the altar, but can receive a blessing by crossing your arms over your chest while kneeling. Today was the First Family's fourth visit to St. John's; they attended just hours before President Obama's inauguration, on Easter Sunday in 2009, and again earlier this year.
The Obamas have never joined a church in Washington; the President has cited an unwillingness to disrupt any congregation by joining. St. John's Episcopal Church's history says that every president since James Madison has attended services at the church.
The First Family walked back home to the White House, following the service.
Selected affirmations of faith (Addition to Daniel: Story of Bel and the Dragon) - excerpt
Verses 25 - 26, 40 - 41
And Daniel said, "I will worship the Lord my God, for He is a living God. But with your permission, O king, I will kill this serpent without sword or stick."
And the king said, "You have my permission." . . .
Then the king shouted loudly, "You are great, Lord God of Daniel, and there is no other beside You!"
And Daniel said, "I will worship the Lord my God, for He is a living God. But with your permission, O king, I will kill this serpent without sword or stick."
And the king said, "You have my permission." . . .
Then the king shouted loudly, "You are great, Lord God of Daniel, and there is no other beside You!"
Psalm of the three youth -- Addition to Daniel (excerpt) - 41 verses
Verses 27 - 67 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
Then all three, as with one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed God in the furnace, and said,
"Blessed are You, Lord God of our forefathers,
And to be praised and greatly exalted forever.Blessed is Your glorious, holy name,
And to be highly praised and greatly exalted forever.Blessed are You in the temple of Your holy glory,
And to be highly praised and greatly exalted forever.Blessed are You who sit upon winged creatures, and look into the depths,
And to be praised and greatly exalted forever.
Blessed are You on Your kingly throne,
And to be highly praised and greatly exalted forever.Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
And to be praised and greatly exalted forever.
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you heavens,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all you waters above the heaven,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all you powers,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon;
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you stars of heaven,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all rain and dew,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all you winds,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, cold and warmth,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, dews and snows,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, nights and days,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, ice and cold,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, frosts and snows,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Let the eath bless the Lord,
Let it sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you mountains and hills,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all things that grow on the earth,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, seas and rivers,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you springs,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you whales and all the things that move in the waters,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all you wild birds,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all you animals and cattle,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you sons of men,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, O Israel,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you slaves of the Lord,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the upright,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
For He has rescued us from Hades and saved us from the hand of death,
And delivered us from the burning fiery furnace;
From the midst of the fire He has delivered us.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is kind,
For his mercy endures forever.
Bless Him, all you who worship the Lord, the God of gods,
Sing praise to Him and give thanks to him,
For his mercy endures forever."
Then all three, as with one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed God in the furnace, and said,
"Blessed are You, Lord God of our forefathers,
And to be praised and greatly exalted forever.Blessed is Your glorious, holy name,
And to be highly praised and greatly exalted forever.Blessed are You in the temple of Your holy glory,
And to be highly praised and greatly exalted forever.Blessed are You who sit upon winged creatures, and look into the depths,
And to be praised and greatly exalted forever.
Blessed are You on Your kingly throne,
And to be highly praised and greatly exalted forever.Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
And to be praised and greatly exalted forever.
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you heavens,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all you waters above the heaven,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all you powers,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon;
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you stars of heaven,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all rain and dew,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all you winds,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, cold and warmth,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, dews and snows,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, nights and days,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, ice and cold,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, frosts and snows,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Let the eath bless the Lord,
Let it sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you mountains and hills,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all things that grow on the earth,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, seas and rivers,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you springs,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you whales and all the things that move in the waters,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all you wild birds,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, all you animals and cattle,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you sons of men,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, O Israel,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you slaves of the Lord,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the upright,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael,
Sing praise to Him and greatly exalt Him forever.
For He has rescued us from Hades and saved us from the hand of death,
And delivered us from the burning fiery furnace;
From the midst of the fire He has delivered us.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is kind,
For his mercy endures forever.
Bless Him, all you who worship the Lord, the God of gods,
Sing praise to Him and give thanks to him,
For his mercy endures forever."
Friday, September 17, 2010
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau adviser to Pres. Obama -- Elizabeth Warren's blog (today)
"Fighting to Protect Consumers"
(title of blog posting)
Posted by Elizabeth Warren on September 17, 2010 at 10:56 AM EDT
Over the past several weeks, the President and I have had extensive conversations about the vital importance of consumer financial protection.
The President asked me, and I enthusiastically agreed, to serve as an Assistant to the President and Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He has also asked me to take on the job to get the new CFPB started—right now. The President and I are committed to the same vision on CFPB, and I am confident that I will have the tools I need to get the job done.
President Obama understands the importance of leveling the playing field again for families and creating protections that work not just for the wealthy or connected, but for every American. The new consumer bureau is based on a pretty simple idea: people ought to be able to read their credit card and mortgage contracts and know the deal. They shouldn’t learn about an unfair rule or practice only when it bites them—way too late for them to do anything about it. The new law creates a chance to put a tough cop on the beat and provide real accountability and oversight of the consumer credit market. The time for hiding tricks and traps in the fine print is over. This new bureau is based on the simple idea that if the playing field is level and families can see what’s going on, they will have better tools to make better choices.
If the CFPB can succeed at leveling the playing field, we can go a long way toward repairing a gaping hole in the budgets of millions of families. But nobody has ever thought or argued that the consumer bureau can fix everything. Lost jobs, stagnant incomes, rising costs for college, dwindling retirement savings—there’s a lot of work to be done.
When she was 16, my grandmother, Hannie Reed, drove a wagon in the Oklahoma land rush. Her mother had died, so she was up front with her little brothers and sisters bouncing around in the back. When I was growing up, she talked about life on the prairie, about marrying my grandfather and making a living building one-room schoolhouses, about getting wiped out in the Great Depression. She was hit with hard challenges throughout her life, but the moral of her stories was always the same: she would solve her problems one at a time by pulling up her socks and getting to work.
It’s time for all of us to pull up our socks and get to work!
www.whitehouse.gov/
(title of blog posting)
Posted by Elizabeth Warren on September 17, 2010 at 10:56 AM EDT
Over the past several weeks, the President and I have had extensive conversations about the vital importance of consumer financial protection.
The President asked me, and I enthusiastically agreed, to serve as an Assistant to the President and Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He has also asked me to take on the job to get the new CFPB started—right now. The President and I are committed to the same vision on CFPB, and I am confident that I will have the tools I need to get the job done.
President Obama understands the importance of leveling the playing field again for families and creating protections that work not just for the wealthy or connected, but for every American. The new consumer bureau is based on a pretty simple idea: people ought to be able to read their credit card and mortgage contracts and know the deal. They shouldn’t learn about an unfair rule or practice only when it bites them—way too late for them to do anything about it. The new law creates a chance to put a tough cop on the beat and provide real accountability and oversight of the consumer credit market. The time for hiding tricks and traps in the fine print is over. This new bureau is based on the simple idea that if the playing field is level and families can see what’s going on, they will have better tools to make better choices.
If the CFPB can succeed at leveling the playing field, we can go a long way toward repairing a gaping hole in the budgets of millions of families. But nobody has ever thought or argued that the consumer bureau can fix everything. Lost jobs, stagnant incomes, rising costs for college, dwindling retirement savings—there’s a lot of work to be done.
When she was 16, my grandmother, Hannie Reed, drove a wagon in the Oklahoma land rush. Her mother had died, so she was up front with her little brothers and sisters bouncing around in the back. When I was growing up, she talked about life on the prairie, about marrying my grandfather and making a living building one-room schoolhouses, about getting wiped out in the Great Depression. She was hit with hard challenges throughout her life, but the moral of her stories was always the same: she would solve her problems one at a time by pulling up her socks and getting to work.
It’s time for all of us to pull up our socks and get to work!
www.whitehouse.gov/
Comedy Central hosts offer Oct. 30 Rally Dates to "restore" America
from HOLLYWOOD Reporter website (posted Friday September 17):
On Thursday's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," the host announced plans to hold an event against extremism in Washington D.C. called "Rally to Restore Sanity."
"See you October 30 on the National Mall to spread the timeless message, 'Take it down a notch for America,'" he said. "A million Moderate march, where we take to the streets to send a message to our leaders and our national media that says, 'We are here! We... are only here until six though, because we have a sitter.'"
Not to be outdone, Stephen Colbert announced on his Comedy Central show, which airs directly after Stewart's, that he was throwing a competing rally: "March to Keep Fear Alive."
"Now is not the time to take it down a notch. Now is the time for all good men to freak out for freedom," Colbert said.
Both rallies already have Web sites.
Reads the "Rally to Restore Sanity" site: "We're looking for the people who think shouting is annoying, counterproductive, and terrible for your throat; who feel that the loudest voices shouldn't be the only ones that get heard."
Colbert's "March to Keep Fear Alive site" says, "Never forget -- 'Reason' is just one letter away from 'Treason.' Coincidence? Reasonable people would say it is, but American can't afford to take that chance."
The news comes just three weeks after Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally on D.C.'s national mall, which coincided with the 48th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
On Thursday's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," the host announced plans to hold an event against extremism in Washington D.C. called "Rally to Restore Sanity."
"See you October 30 on the National Mall to spread the timeless message, 'Take it down a notch for America,'" he said. "A million Moderate march, where we take to the streets to send a message to our leaders and our national media that says, 'We are here! We... are only here until six though, because we have a sitter.'"
Not to be outdone, Stephen Colbert announced on his Comedy Central show, which airs directly after Stewart's, that he was throwing a competing rally: "March to Keep Fear Alive."
"Now is not the time to take it down a notch. Now is the time for all good men to freak out for freedom," Colbert said.
Both rallies already have Web sites.
Reads the "Rally to Restore Sanity" site: "We're looking for the people who think shouting is annoying, counterproductive, and terrible for your throat; who feel that the loudest voices shouldn't be the only ones that get heard."
Colbert's "March to Keep Fear Alive site" says, "Never forget -- 'Reason' is just one letter away from 'Treason.' Coincidence? Reasonable people would say it is, but American can't afford to take that chance."
The news comes just three weeks after Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally on D.C.'s national mall, which coincided with the 48th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
Today is Constitution Day -- urging local, county, state, federal commemoration in 2010 (Sept. 17)
from PROCLAMATION at www.whitehouse.gov/ website =
The summer of 1787 was a watershed moment in our Nation's history. In the span of four short months, delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia established a Constitution for the United States of America, signing the finished charter on September 17, 1787. With their signatures, and subsequent ratification of the Constitution by the States, the Framers advanced our national journey.
On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and during Constitution Week, we commemorate the legacy passed down to us from our Nation's Founders. Our Constitution, with the Bill of Rights and amendments, has stood the test of time, steering our country through times of prosperity and peace, and guiding us through the depths of internal conflict and war. Because of the wisdom of those who have shaped our Nation's founding documents, and the sacrifices of those who have defended America for over two centuries, we enjoy unprecedented freedoms and opportunities. As beneficiaries, we have a solemn duty to participate in our vibrant democracy so that it remains strong and responsive to the needs of our people.
Each year, thousands of candidates for citizenship commemorate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day by becoming new American citizens. These individuals breathe life into our Constitution by learning about its significance and the rights it enshrines, and then by taking a solemn oath to "support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America." In so doing, they voluntarily accept that citizenship is not merely a collection of rights, but also a set of responsibilities. Just as our Founders sought to secure the "Blessings of Liberty" for themselves and their posterity, these new Americans have come to our shores to embrace and impart the fundamental beliefs that define us as a Nation.
In the United States, our Constitution is not simply words written on aging parchment, but a foundation of government, a protector of liberties, and a guarantee that we are all free to shape our own destiny. As we celebrate this document's profound impact on our everyday lives, may all Americans strive to uphold its vision of freedom and justice for all. . .
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2010, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and September 17 through September 23, 2010, as Constitution Week. I encourage Federal, State, and local officials, as well as leaders of civic, social, and educational organizations, to conduct ceremonies and programs that recognize our Constitution and reaffirm our rights and obligations as citizens of this great Nation.
The summer of 1787 was a watershed moment in our Nation's history. In the span of four short months, delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia established a Constitution for the United States of America, signing the finished charter on September 17, 1787. With their signatures, and subsequent ratification of the Constitution by the States, the Framers advanced our national journey.
On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and during Constitution Week, we commemorate the legacy passed down to us from our Nation's Founders. Our Constitution, with the Bill of Rights and amendments, has stood the test of time, steering our country through times of prosperity and peace, and guiding us through the depths of internal conflict and war. Because of the wisdom of those who have shaped our Nation's founding documents, and the sacrifices of those who have defended America for over two centuries, we enjoy unprecedented freedoms and opportunities. As beneficiaries, we have a solemn duty to participate in our vibrant democracy so that it remains strong and responsive to the needs of our people.
Each year, thousands of candidates for citizenship commemorate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day by becoming new American citizens. These individuals breathe life into our Constitution by learning about its significance and the rights it enshrines, and then by taking a solemn oath to "support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America." In so doing, they voluntarily accept that citizenship is not merely a collection of rights, but also a set of responsibilities. Just as our Founders sought to secure the "Blessings of Liberty" for themselves and their posterity, these new Americans have come to our shores to embrace and impart the fundamental beliefs that define us as a Nation.
In the United States, our Constitution is not simply words written on aging parchment, but a foundation of government, a protector of liberties, and a guarantee that we are all free to shape our own destiny. As we celebrate this document's profound impact on our everyday lives, may all Americans strive to uphold its vision of freedom and justice for all. . .
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2010, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and September 17 through September 23, 2010, as Constitution Week. I encourage Federal, State, and local officials, as well as leaders of civic, social, and educational organizations, to conduct ceremonies and programs that recognize our Constitution and reaffirm our rights and obligations as citizens of this great Nation.
More news from Oil pipeline company on summertime oil leak into river (9/16 press release to media)
Originally posted at http://www.wsbt.com/news/regional/Enbridge-says-it-will-meet-oil-cleanup-deadline-103106094.html TV website for South Bend, IN CBS TV affiliate
Enbridge Inc. says it expects to meet a Sept. 27 deadline set by federal regulators for removing oil that spilled into southern Michigan waterways after a pipeline leak near Marshall. The Canadian company says it's making progress on cleaning up the Kalamazoo River, a tributary called Talmadge Creek and other waterways and shorelines.
More than 800,000 gallons of crude escaped from in the rupture, which Enbridge reported July 26. The line runs from Griffith, Ind., to Sarnia, Ontario.
Environmental Protection Agency official Mark Duno said Thursday that 10 million gallons of water and oil have been removed and the cleanup is mostly done. He says trouble spots remain, including areas where oil entered river sediments. Enbridge plans to dredge and remove submerged oil.
Enbridge Inc. says it expects to meet a Sept. 27 deadline set by federal regulators for removing oil that spilled into southern Michigan waterways after a pipeline leak near Marshall. The Canadian company says it's making progress on cleaning up the Kalamazoo River, a tributary called Talmadge Creek and other waterways and shorelines.
More than 800,000 gallons of crude escaped from in the rupture, which Enbridge reported July 26. The line runs from Griffith, Ind., to Sarnia, Ontario.
Environmental Protection Agency official Mark Duno said Thursday that 10 million gallons of water and oil have been removed and the cleanup is mostly done. He says trouble spots remain, including areas where oil entered river sediments. Enbridge plans to dredge and remove submerged oil.
Prayer of the three young men in the furnace (addition to Daniel, chapter 3)
Twenty-six verses covering a Prayer of Abednego/Azariah positioned between Daniel 3:23 and 3:24 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
And they (three persecuted youth: Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego) walked about in the midst of the fire, singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord. And Azariah stood still and uttered this prayer. . . "Blessed are You, Lord God of our forefathers, and worthy of praise! Your name is glorified forever! For You are upright in all that You have done; all Your works are ture, and Your ways straight, and all Your judgments are true. The sentences that You passed were just in all that You have brought upon us, and upon Jerusalem, the Holy City of our forefathers. For in truth and justice You have brought all these things upon us because of our sins. For we have sinned and done wrong in forsaking You, we have sinned grievously in everything, and have disobeyed Your commands; we have not observed them or done as You commanded us to do, for our own good. All that You have brought upon us, and all that You have done to us, You have done in justice. You have handed us over to enemies without law, to hateful rebels, and to a ruthless king, the most wicked ruler in all the world, yet we cannot open our mouths. Shame and disgrace have overtaken Your slaves and Your worshipers. For the sake of Your name, do not surrender us utterly, do not cancel Your agreement, and do not withdraw Your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham whom You loved, and for the sake of Isaac, Your slave, and for the sake of Israel, Your holy one, to whom You spoke and promised that You would make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven, or the sand that is on the seashore. For, Master, we have become fewer than all the heathen, and we are humiliated everywhere, because of our sins. And now there is no prince, or prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, or sacrifice, or offering, or incense; no place to make an offering before You, or to find mercy. But may we be accepted throught a contrite heart and a humble spirit, as though it were through a contrite heart and a humble spirit, as though it were through whole burnt offerings of rams and bulls, and through tens of thousands of fat lambs. So let our sacrifice rise before You today, and fully follow after You, for those who trust in You will not be disappointed. So now we follow You with all our hearts; we revere You and seek Your face. Do not disappoint us, but deal with us in Your forbearance and Your abundant mercy. Deliver us in Your wonderful way, and glorify Your name, Lord; may all who do Your slaves harm be disgraced; may they be put to shame and lose all their power and might, and may their strength be broken. Let them know that You are the Lord God alone, glorious over the whole world."
(Prose paragraph) Now the king's servants who threw them in never ceased feeding the furnace fires with naptha, pitch, tow, and faggots, and the flame streamed out above the furnace for 49 cubits (73 feet). It even spread, and burned up those Chaldeans whom it found about the furnace. But the angel of the Lord came down to join Azariah and his companions in the furnace, and drove the fiery blaze out of the furnace, and made the middle of the furnace as though a moist wind was whistling through it, and the fire did not touch them at all, or harm or trouble them.
And they (three persecuted youth: Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego) walked about in the midst of the fire, singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord. And Azariah stood still and uttered this prayer. . . "Blessed are You, Lord God of our forefathers, and worthy of praise! Your name is glorified forever! For You are upright in all that You have done; all Your works are ture, and Your ways straight, and all Your judgments are true. The sentences that You passed were just in all that You have brought upon us, and upon Jerusalem, the Holy City of our forefathers. For in truth and justice You have brought all these things upon us because of our sins. For we have sinned and done wrong in forsaking You, we have sinned grievously in everything, and have disobeyed Your commands; we have not observed them or done as You commanded us to do, for our own good. All that You have brought upon us, and all that You have done to us, You have done in justice. You have handed us over to enemies without law, to hateful rebels, and to a ruthless king, the most wicked ruler in all the world, yet we cannot open our mouths. Shame and disgrace have overtaken Your slaves and Your worshipers. For the sake of Your name, do not surrender us utterly, do not cancel Your agreement, and do not withdraw Your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham whom You loved, and for the sake of Isaac, Your slave, and for the sake of Israel, Your holy one, to whom You spoke and promised that You would make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven, or the sand that is on the seashore. For, Master, we have become fewer than all the heathen, and we are humiliated everywhere, because of our sins. And now there is no prince, or prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, or sacrifice, or offering, or incense; no place to make an offering before You, or to find mercy. But may we be accepted throught a contrite heart and a humble spirit, as though it were through a contrite heart and a humble spirit, as though it were through whole burnt offerings of rams and bulls, and through tens of thousands of fat lambs. So let our sacrifice rise before You today, and fully follow after You, for those who trust in You will not be disappointed. So now we follow You with all our hearts; we revere You and seek Your face. Do not disappoint us, but deal with us in Your forbearance and Your abundant mercy. Deliver us in Your wonderful way, and glorify Your name, Lord; may all who do Your slaves harm be disgraced; may they be put to shame and lose all their power and might, and may their strength be broken. Let them know that You are the Lord God alone, glorious over the whole world."
(Prose paragraph) Now the king's servants who threw them in never ceased feeding the furnace fires with naptha, pitch, tow, and faggots, and the flame streamed out above the furnace for 49 cubits (73 feet). It even spread, and burned up those Chaldeans whom it found about the furnace. But the angel of the Lord came down to join Azariah and his companions in the furnace, and drove the fiery blaze out of the furnace, and made the middle of the furnace as though a moist wind was whistling through it, and the fire did not touch them at all, or harm or trouble them.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The Prayer of Susanna (a 64-verse Addition to the Book of Daniel) - excerpt
This addition to a canonical "Writing" comes from verses 41 - 46 and 58 - 64 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
Then the assembly believed them, as they were elders of the people and judges and they condemned her to death. But Susanna uttered a loud cry, and said, "Eternal God, You who know what is hidden, who know all things before they happen, You know that what they have testified to against me is false, and here I am to die when I have done none of the things they have so wickedly charged me with."
And the Lord heard her cry, and as she was being led away to be put to death, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young man named Daniel, and he loudly shouted, "I am clear of the blood of this woman!"
(Daniel cross-examines the accusers) . . .So now tell me, under which tree did you catch them embracing each other?" and the elders replied, "Under a liveoak tree"
And Daniel said, "You have also told a fine lie against your own life! For the angel of God is waiting with his sword to saw you in two, to destroy you both."
And the whole company uttered a great shout and blessed God who saves those who hope in him. And they threw themselves upon the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them out of their own mouths of having borne false witness, and treated them as they had wickedly planned to treat their neighbor; they obeyed the Law of Moses and killed them. And innocent blood was saved that day. And Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna and so did Joakim her husband and all her relatives, because she had done nothing immodest. And from that day onward, Daniel had a great reputation in the eys of the people.
Then the assembly believed them, as they were elders of the people and judges and they condemned her to death. But Susanna uttered a loud cry, and said, "Eternal God, You who know what is hidden, who know all things before they happen, You know that what they have testified to against me is false, and here I am to die when I have done none of the things they have so wickedly charged me with."
And the Lord heard her cry, and as she was being led away to be put to death, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young man named Daniel, and he loudly shouted, "I am clear of the blood of this woman!"
(Daniel cross-examines the accusers) . . .So now tell me, under which tree did you catch them embracing each other?" and the elders replied, "Under a liveoak tree"
And Daniel said, "You have also told a fine lie against your own life! For the angel of God is waiting with his sword to saw you in two, to destroy you both."
And the whole company uttered a great shout and blessed God who saves those who hope in him. And they threw themselves upon the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them out of their own mouths of having borne false witness, and treated them as they had wickedly planned to treat their neighbor; they obeyed the Law of Moses and killed them. And innocent blood was saved that day. And Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna and so did Joakim her husband and all her relatives, because she had done nothing immodest. And from that day onward, Daniel had a great reputation in the eys of the people.
Addition to the Book of Esther (Greek Version) - Mordecai's dream and interpretation
(translation of Edgar Goodspeed from the Apocrypha as a Greek text: following 10:3 where the Hebrew text of Esther ends)
And Mordecai said,
"This came from God. For I remember the dream that I had about these things; for none of them has failed to be fulfilled. As for the tiny spring that became a river, when light came, and the sun shone and there was an abundance of water, the river is Esther, whom the king married and made queen. And I and Haman are the two dragons. And those who gathered to destroy the name of the Jews are the heathen. And my nation, which cried out to God and was saved, is Israel; for the Lord has saved His people, the Lord has delivered us from all these evils, and God has wrought great signs and wonders, such as never happened among the heathen. That is why he made two lots, one for the people of God and one for all the heathen, and these two lots came to the hour and time and day when God should judge among all the nations. And God remembered His people, and He acquitted His inheritance. So these days in the month of Adar, on the fourteenth and fifteenth of that month, will be observed by them with assembling together and joy and gladness before God from generation to generation, forever, among his people Israel."
And Mordecai said,
"This came from God. For I remember the dream that I had about these things; for none of them has failed to be fulfilled. As for the tiny spring that became a river, when light came, and the sun shone and there was an abundance of water, the river is Esther, whom the king married and made queen. And I and Haman are the two dragons. And those who gathered to destroy the name of the Jews are the heathen. And my nation, which cried out to God and was saved, is Israel; for the Lord has saved His people, the Lord has delivered us from all these evils, and God has wrought great signs and wonders, such as never happened among the heathen. That is why he made two lots, one for the people of God and one for all the heathen, and these two lots came to the hour and time and day when God should judge among all the nations. And God remembered His people, and He acquitted His inheritance. So these days in the month of Adar, on the fourteenth and fifteenth of that month, will be observed by them with assembling together and joy and gladness before God from generation to generation, forever, among his people Israel."
Additions to the Book of Esther - her prayers (excerpt)
13:8 - 14:19 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
And she (Esther) besought the Lord, calling to mind all the doings of the Lord, "Lord, You King, who rule over all, for all is in Your power, and there is no one who can oppose You when You choose to save Israel, for You made heaven and earth, and every wonderful thing under heaven, and You are Lord of all, and there is no one who can resist you, who are the Lord; You know all things; You know, Lord, that it was not in insolence or arrogance or vainglory that I did this, and refused to bow down to this proud Haman, for I would have been willing to kiss the soles of his feet, to save Israel. But I did it so as not to set the glory of man above the glory of God, and I will bow down to no one but You, my Lord, and I will not do it in pride. Now, Lord God and King, God of Abraham, spare Your people, for they are looking at us to consume us, and they desire to destroy the inheritance that has been Yours from the beginning. Do not be indifferent to Your portion, which You ransomed for Youself from the land of Egypt. Hear my prayer, and have mercy on Your heritage; turn our mourning into feasting, so that we may live, and sing praise to Your name, Lord; do not destroy the mouth of those who praise You." And all Israel cried out with all their might, for death was before their eyes.
14:1 -- Then Esther, the queen, overwhelmed with deadly anxiety, fled to the Lord; she took off her splendid clothing and put on garments of distress and mourning, and instead of the rarest perfumes, she covered her head with ashes and dung, and she abased her body utterly, and every part that she delighted to adorn she covered with her tangled hair. And she prayed to the Lord,
"My Lord, our King, You stand alone; help me who am alone, and have no helper but You; for my danger is in my hand. Ever since I was born, I have heard in the tribe of my family that You, Lord, took Israel from among all the nations, and our forefathers from among all their ancestors for an everlasting possession, and that You did for them all that You promised. But now we have sinned before You, and You have handed us over to our enemies, because we glorified their gods; You are upright, Lord. And now they are not satisfied that we are in bitter captivity but they have made an agreement with their idols to abolish what Your mouth has ordained, and destroy Your possession, and stop the mouths of those who praise You and quench the glory of Your house, and Your altar, and open the mouths of the heathen to praise unreal gods, so that a mortal king may be magnified forever. Lord, do not give up Your scepter to those who have no being, and do not let them mock at our fall, but turn their plan against themselves, and make an example of the man who has begun this against us. Remember, Lord; make Yourself known in this time of our affliction and give me courage, King of the gods and holder of all dominion. Put eloquent speech in my mouth, before this lion, and change his heart to hate the man who is fighting against us, so that there may be an end of him, and of those who support him. But save us by Your hand, and help me, who stand alone, and have no one but You, Lord. You know everything, and You know that I hate the spledor of the wicked, and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised and of any alien. You know what I am forced to do -- that I abhor the symbol of my proud position, which is placed upon my head on the days when I appear in public; I abhor it like a filthy rag, and never wear it in private. Your slave has not eaten at Haman's table, and I have not honored the king's feast, or drunk the wine of the libations. Your slave has had not joy from the day I was brought here until now, except in You, Lord God of Abraham. O God, whose might is over all, hear the voice of the despairing, and save us from the hands of evildoers, and save me from what I fear."
And she (Esther) besought the Lord, calling to mind all the doings of the Lord, "Lord, You King, who rule over all, for all is in Your power, and there is no one who can oppose You when You choose to save Israel, for You made heaven and earth, and every wonderful thing under heaven, and You are Lord of all, and there is no one who can resist you, who are the Lord; You know all things; You know, Lord, that it was not in insolence or arrogance or vainglory that I did this, and refused to bow down to this proud Haman, for I would have been willing to kiss the soles of his feet, to save Israel. But I did it so as not to set the glory of man above the glory of God, and I will bow down to no one but You, my Lord, and I will not do it in pride. Now, Lord God and King, God of Abraham, spare Your people, for they are looking at us to consume us, and they desire to destroy the inheritance that has been Yours from the beginning. Do not be indifferent to Your portion, which You ransomed for Youself from the land of Egypt. Hear my prayer, and have mercy on Your heritage; turn our mourning into feasting, so that we may live, and sing praise to Your name, Lord; do not destroy the mouth of those who praise You." And all Israel cried out with all their might, for death was before their eyes.
14:1 -- Then Esther, the queen, overwhelmed with deadly anxiety, fled to the Lord; she took off her splendid clothing and put on garments of distress and mourning, and instead of the rarest perfumes, she covered her head with ashes and dung, and she abased her body utterly, and every part that she delighted to adorn she covered with her tangled hair. And she prayed to the Lord,
"My Lord, our King, You stand alone; help me who am alone, and have no helper but You; for my danger is in my hand. Ever since I was born, I have heard in the tribe of my family that You, Lord, took Israel from among all the nations, and our forefathers from among all their ancestors for an everlasting possession, and that You did for them all that You promised. But now we have sinned before You, and You have handed us over to our enemies, because we glorified their gods; You are upright, Lord. And now they are not satisfied that we are in bitter captivity but they have made an agreement with their idols to abolish what Your mouth has ordained, and destroy Your possession, and stop the mouths of those who praise You and quench the glory of Your house, and Your altar, and open the mouths of the heathen to praise unreal gods, so that a mortal king may be magnified forever. Lord, do not give up Your scepter to those who have no being, and do not let them mock at our fall, but turn their plan against themselves, and make an example of the man who has begun this against us. Remember, Lord; make Yourself known in this time of our affliction and give me courage, King of the gods and holder of all dominion. Put eloquent speech in my mouth, before this lion, and change his heart to hate the man who is fighting against us, so that there may be an end of him, and of those who support him. But save us by Your hand, and help me, who stand alone, and have no one but You, Lord. You know everything, and You know that I hate the spledor of the wicked, and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised and of any alien. You know what I am forced to do -- that I abhor the symbol of my proud position, which is placed upon my head on the days when I appear in public; I abhor it like a filthy rag, and never wear it in private. Your slave has not eaten at Haman's table, and I have not honored the king's feast, or drunk the wine of the libations. Your slave has had not joy from the day I was brought here until now, except in You, Lord God of Abraham. O God, whose might is over all, hear the voice of the despairing, and save us from the hands of evildoers, and save me from what I fear."
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
News from Iran -- imprisoned American released (ABC News report)
posted at abcnews dot-com as of Tuesday September 14 morning
Sarah Shourd, one of three Americans who have been held in Iran for 14 months on accusations of espionage, has been released, ABC News has confirmed today.
Masoud Shafie, an attorney for the Americans, confirmed Shourd's release to ABC News. Shafie said the Swiss ambassador will be taking Shourd from the Tehran prison to the airport. Swiss officials have been representing U.S. interests in the case since the U.S. government does not have diplomatic relations with Iran.
Iranian officials, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, had announced last week that Shourd would be released on Sept. 11.
Officials in Iran's judiciary canceled those plans Friday, but reinstated them Sunday on the condition that her family post $500,000 bail, according to an Iranian prosecutor who spoke to Iran's IRNA news agency. It is unclear if the bail has been paid.
A senior U.S. official familiar with the negotiations told ABC News Monday that the U.S. government would not be contributing any cash for Shourd's release.
Shourd, 32, was detained along with her traveling companions, fiance Shane Bauer and friend Josh Fattal, in July 2009, when the trio of hikers was picked up after allegedly crossing into Iran from Iraq and imprisoned under accusations of espionage. No formal charges have been filed and the mothers of the hikers claim that if they entered Iran at all, they did so by accident.
Conditions of Shourd's bail do not prevent her from leaving Iran, but she would still face trial for allegedly illegally crossing Iran's border. Bauer and Fattal will remain in Iranian custody, according to Iranian prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi.
Sarah Shourd, one of three Americans who have been held in Iran for 14 months on accusations of espionage, has been released, ABC News has confirmed today.
Masoud Shafie, an attorney for the Americans, confirmed Shourd's release to ABC News. Shafie said the Swiss ambassador will be taking Shourd from the Tehran prison to the airport. Swiss officials have been representing U.S. interests in the case since the U.S. government does not have diplomatic relations with Iran.
Iranian officials, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, had announced last week that Shourd would be released on Sept. 11.
Officials in Iran's judiciary canceled those plans Friday, but reinstated them Sunday on the condition that her family post $500,000 bail, according to an Iranian prosecutor who spoke to Iran's IRNA news agency. It is unclear if the bail has been paid.
A senior U.S. official familiar with the negotiations told ABC News Monday that the U.S. government would not be contributing any cash for Shourd's release.
Shourd, 32, was detained along with her traveling companions, fiance Shane Bauer and friend Josh Fattal, in July 2009, when the trio of hikers was picked up after allegedly crossing into Iran from Iraq and imprisoned under accusations of espionage. No formal charges have been filed and the mothers of the hikers claim that if they entered Iran at all, they did so by accident.
Conditions of Shourd's bail do not prevent her from leaving Iran, but she would still face trial for allegedly illegally crossing Iran's border. Bauer and Fattal will remain in Iranian custody, according to Iranian prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Judith - chapter 16 - excerpt that includes her psalm and the response of people
16: 1, 2-17, 18 - 20 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
And Judith began this thanksgiving before all Israel, and all the people loudly sang this song of praise.
And Judith said, "Begin to play unto my God with tambourines, sing unto my Lord to the sound of cymbals, raise hymn and praise for Him, exalt His name and call upon it, for the Lord is a God that shatters wars, for He brought me into His camp, in the midst of the people, rescuing me from the hands of my pursuers. Assyria came from the north out of the mountains, he/it came with the myriads of his host, their multitude blocked up the torrents, and their calvary covered the hills. He said he was going to burn up my borders, and kill my young men with the sword, and throw my babies upon the ground, and take my children as spoils, and my girls as plunder. The Lord Almighty brought them to nought by the hand of a woman.
For their champion did not fall at the hands of young men, the sons of the Titans did not strike him down, nor the tall giants set upon him, but Judith, the daughter of Merari, made him faint with the beauty of her face. For she took off her widow's mourning, to lift up those who were in distress in Israel. She anointed her face with ointment, and arranged her hair in a headdress, and put on a linen dress to deceive him. Her sandal ravished his eye, and her beauty captivated his soul. The scimitar passed through his neck.
Persians shuddered at her daring, and Medes were daunted at her boldness. Then my oppressed people cried out, my weak people were terrified and cowered down, they lifted up their voices and turned to flee. The sons of their maidservants stabbed them, and wounded them like runaways' children; they perished before the army of my Lord. I will sing to my God a new song; Lord, you are great and glorious, wonderfully strong, unconquerable. Let all Your creation serve You, for You but spoke, and they were created, You sent forth Your Spirit, and it formed them, and there is no one that can resist Your voice. For mountains will be moved from their foundations like waters, and rocks will melt like wax before you, but to those who fear You, You will continue to show mercy. For any sacrifice for a fragrant odor is a small thing, and any fat for a whole burnt offering is insignificant in Your sight, but he that fears the Lord is great forever. Alas for the heathen that rise up against my nation. The Lord Almighty will take vengeance on them in the day of judgment, to apply fire and worms to their bodies and they will feel them and wail forever."
(Prose section) When they reached Jerusalem, they worshiped God, and when the people were purified, they offered their whole burnt offerings and their freewill offerings and their gifts. And Judith dedicated to God all the dishes of Holofernes, which the people had given her, and the canopy which she had taken for herself from his bedchamber she gave as a gift to God; and the people continued to celebrate in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for three months, and Judith stayed with them.
And Judith began this thanksgiving before all Israel, and all the people loudly sang this song of praise.
And Judith said, "Begin to play unto my God with tambourines, sing unto my Lord to the sound of cymbals, raise hymn and praise for Him, exalt His name and call upon it, for the Lord is a God that shatters wars, for He brought me into His camp, in the midst of the people, rescuing me from the hands of my pursuers. Assyria came from the north out of the mountains, he/it came with the myriads of his host, their multitude blocked up the torrents, and their calvary covered the hills. He said he was going to burn up my borders, and kill my young men with the sword, and throw my babies upon the ground, and take my children as spoils, and my girls as plunder. The Lord Almighty brought them to nought by the hand of a woman.
For their champion did not fall at the hands of young men, the sons of the Titans did not strike him down, nor the tall giants set upon him, but Judith, the daughter of Merari, made him faint with the beauty of her face. For she took off her widow's mourning, to lift up those who were in distress in Israel. She anointed her face with ointment, and arranged her hair in a headdress, and put on a linen dress to deceive him. Her sandal ravished his eye, and her beauty captivated his soul. The scimitar passed through his neck.
Persians shuddered at her daring, and Medes were daunted at her boldness. Then my oppressed people cried out, my weak people were terrified and cowered down, they lifted up their voices and turned to flee. The sons of their maidservants stabbed them, and wounded them like runaways' children; they perished before the army of my Lord. I will sing to my God a new song; Lord, you are great and glorious, wonderfully strong, unconquerable. Let all Your creation serve You, for You but spoke, and they were created, You sent forth Your Spirit, and it formed them, and there is no one that can resist Your voice. For mountains will be moved from their foundations like waters, and rocks will melt like wax before you, but to those who fear You, You will continue to show mercy. For any sacrifice for a fragrant odor is a small thing, and any fat for a whole burnt offering is insignificant in Your sight, but he that fears the Lord is great forever. Alas for the heathen that rise up against my nation. The Lord Almighty will take vengeance on them in the day of judgment, to apply fire and worms to their bodies and they will feel them and wail forever."
(Prose section) When they reached Jerusalem, they worshiped God, and when the people were purified, they offered their whole burnt offerings and their freewill offerings and their gifts. And Judith dedicated to God all the dishes of Holofernes, which the people had given her, and the canopy which she had taken for herself from his bedchamber she gave as a gift to God; and the people continued to celebrate in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for three months, and Judith stayed with them.
Judith - chapter 13 (excerpt)
13: 4b - 5, 14, 17 - 20 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
"Lord, God of all power, look favorably at this hour upon the works of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem. For now is the time to help Your inheritance and to carry out my undertaking for the destruction of the enemies who have risen up against us. . .Give me strength, Lord, God of Israel, today!"
And she said to them (the elders) in a loud voice, "Praise God, praise Him! Praise God who has not withdrawn His mercy from the house of Israel, but has shattered our enemies by my hand this very night!"
All the people were greatly astonished, and they bowed down and worshiped God, and said under a common impulse, "Blessed are You, our God, who have brought to nought the enemies of Your people today." And Uzziah said to Judith, "Blessed are you, my daughter, beyond all the women on earth in the sight of the Most High God, and blessed is the Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth, who guided you to strike the leader of our enemies on the head. Your hope shall never disappear from the minds of all when they remember the strength of God. May God make this an eternal glory to you and reward you with blessings, because on account of the affliction of our nation you did not spare your own life, but you anticipated our calamity, going straight on before our God!" And all the people said, "Be it so! Be it so!"
"Lord, God of all power, look favorably at this hour upon the works of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem. For now is the time to help Your inheritance and to carry out my undertaking for the destruction of the enemies who have risen up against us. . .Give me strength, Lord, God of Israel, today!"
And she said to them (the elders) in a loud voice, "Praise God, praise Him! Praise God who has not withdrawn His mercy from the house of Israel, but has shattered our enemies by my hand this very night!"
All the people were greatly astonished, and they bowed down and worshiped God, and said under a common impulse, "Blessed are You, our God, who have brought to nought the enemies of Your people today." And Uzziah said to Judith, "Blessed are you, my daughter, beyond all the women on earth in the sight of the Most High God, and blessed is the Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth, who guided you to strike the leader of our enemies on the head. Your hope shall never disappear from the minds of all when they remember the strength of God. May God make this an eternal glory to you and reward you with blessings, because on account of the affliction of our nation you did not spare your own life, but you anticipated our calamity, going straight on before our God!" And all the people said, "Be it so! Be it so!"
Judith used as a specific example in early church epistle to Corinthian church (I Clement, chapter 55)
I found this online at an early church/patristics source site:
"Many women also, being strengthened by the grace of God, have performed numerous manly exploits. The blessed Judith, when her city was besieged, asked of the elders permission to go forth into the camp of the strangers; and, exposing herself to danger, she went out for the love which she bare to her country and people then besieged; and the Lord delivered Holofernes into the hands of a woman." (Judith 8:30)
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm
"Many women also, being strengthened by the grace of God, have performed numerous manly exploits. The blessed Judith, when her city was besieged, asked of the elders permission to go forth into the camp of the strangers; and, exposing herself to danger, she went out for the love which she bare to her country and people then besieged; and the Lord delivered Holofernes into the hands of a woman." (Judith 8:30)
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm
Pakistani Tennis player -- U.S. Open Men's doubles finals -- chance for "Stop War, Start Tennis"
from YAHOO! Sports news -- www.sports.yahoo.com/
After two sets of riveting tennis during which Pakistan’s Qureshi and India’s Rohan Bopanna came a scant few points short of winning the men’s doubles title Friday, Qureshi was handed the microphone and given a chance to speak words that, in his mind, couldn’t be said strongly enough.
“There’s a bad perception that Pakistan is a terrorist nation,” Qureshi told the crowd in 23,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium. “We’re a friendly, loving, caring people. We want peace as much as you guys. May God bless us all.”
He received a warm ovation from a crowd that included Bopanna’s parents, who flew from India to New York for the match. And at that moment, it hardly seemed important that Qureshi and Bopanna had lost 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) to Americans Bob and Mike Bryan, brothers who won their ninth Grand Slam tournament and third U.S. Open title.
About a half-hour later, the ambassadors of Bopanna’s India and Qureshi’s Pakistan—neighboring countries with a decades-long history of war, distrust and tension—placed 5,000-year-old ceremonial cloths over the shoulders of the Bryan brothers, who are donating money through their foundation to help victims of flooding in Pakistan that has affected more than 17 million people.
As they’ve been saying all week, Qureshi and Bopanna simply want to send some good news back to their homelands, where good news has been sorely lacking of late.
It was one of those moments when an athletic event means something more than a win and a loss.
“Sports will always play a certain role,” Pakistani ambassador Abdullah H. Haroon said. “No matter how you look at it, this is bound to improve things. Because this is people to people, this is not governments to governments, which have reservations and other aspects. This is people to people. People have enjoyed it. It has created a tremendous boom.” Bopanna and Qureshi have been playing together since 2003, though the story of their peace partnership—“The Indo-Pak Express,” as they call it—really gathered steam earlier this year when they started wearing sweat shirts with slogans reading “Stop War, Start Tennis” as part of a campaign backed by a group called Peace and Sport.
Hardly unnoticed on Friday was that their closing act in New York came on the eve of Sept. 11, with the city in the midst of a fractious debate about whether an Islamic center and mosque should be built near ground zero, and the country closely following the twists and turns of a Florida pastor’s threat to burn copies of the Quran.
“Yes, I’ve been hearing about that,” said Qureshi, who needed three hours to get through customs when he arrived in New York. “For me, you have to understand there are extremists in every religion. But those small groups or activists shouldn’t justify the thinking that everyone is like them. Above all, everybody wants peace. Not everybody is an extremist. That’s my message and hopefully everyone can understand that.”
On the court, the players put on a show worthy of the message they were sending.
There wasn’t a single break of serve in 24 games and the tiebreakers were decided by two and three points. The Bryans won their 65th career title— improving on their own record. For Bob, it marked the second straight day he’s barely outdone Qureshi. On Thursday, he teamed with Liezel Huber to win the mixed doubles championship.
Bob Bryan said Qureshi’s post-match speech “choked me up.”
“I could see him. He was quivering a little bit. He was very choked up,” Bryan said. “Just to give that message to everyone was very heartfelt.”
Quite a message, indeed, for a tennis match.
After two sets of riveting tennis during which Pakistan’s Qureshi and India’s Rohan Bopanna came a scant few points short of winning the men’s doubles title Friday, Qureshi was handed the microphone and given a chance to speak words that, in his mind, couldn’t be said strongly enough.
“There’s a bad perception that Pakistan is a terrorist nation,” Qureshi told the crowd in 23,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium. “We’re a friendly, loving, caring people. We want peace as much as you guys. May God bless us all.”
He received a warm ovation from a crowd that included Bopanna’s parents, who flew from India to New York for the match. And at that moment, it hardly seemed important that Qureshi and Bopanna had lost 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) to Americans Bob and Mike Bryan, brothers who won their ninth Grand Slam tournament and third U.S. Open title.
About a half-hour later, the ambassadors of Bopanna’s India and Qureshi’s Pakistan—neighboring countries with a decades-long history of war, distrust and tension—placed 5,000-year-old ceremonial cloths over the shoulders of the Bryan brothers, who are donating money through their foundation to help victims of flooding in Pakistan that has affected more than 17 million people.
As they’ve been saying all week, Qureshi and Bopanna simply want to send some good news back to their homelands, where good news has been sorely lacking of late.
It was one of those moments when an athletic event means something more than a win and a loss.
“Sports will always play a certain role,” Pakistani ambassador Abdullah H. Haroon said. “No matter how you look at it, this is bound to improve things. Because this is people to people, this is not governments to governments, which have reservations and other aspects. This is people to people. People have enjoyed it. It has created a tremendous boom.” Bopanna and Qureshi have been playing together since 2003, though the story of their peace partnership—“The Indo-Pak Express,” as they call it—really gathered steam earlier this year when they started wearing sweat shirts with slogans reading “Stop War, Start Tennis” as part of a campaign backed by a group called Peace and Sport.
Hardly unnoticed on Friday was that their closing act in New York came on the eve of Sept. 11, with the city in the midst of a fractious debate about whether an Islamic center and mosque should be built near ground zero, and the country closely following the twists and turns of a Florida pastor’s threat to burn copies of the Quran.
“Yes, I’ve been hearing about that,” said Qureshi, who needed three hours to get through customs when he arrived in New York. “For me, you have to understand there are extremists in every religion. But those small groups or activists shouldn’t justify the thinking that everyone is like them. Above all, everybody wants peace. Not everybody is an extremist. That’s my message and hopefully everyone can understand that.”
On the court, the players put on a show worthy of the message they were sending.
There wasn’t a single break of serve in 24 games and the tiebreakers were decided by two and three points. The Bryans won their 65th career title— improving on their own record. For Bob, it marked the second straight day he’s barely outdone Qureshi. On Thursday, he teamed with Liezel Huber to win the mixed doubles championship.
Bob Bryan said Qureshi’s post-match speech “choked me up.”
“I could see him. He was quivering a little bit. He was very choked up,” Bryan said. “Just to give that message to everyone was very heartfelt.”
Quite a message, indeed, for a tennis match.
Judith - chapter 9 (excerpt) - prayer
9: 2 - 14 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
Lord God of my father Symeon, in whose hand You put a sword to take vengeance on the aliens who had loosened a maiden's headdress to defile her and stripped her thigh to shame her, and profaned her womb to disgrace her; for you said, 'It must not be done,' yet they did it. So You gave up their rulers to be killed, and their bed, which was ashamed of the deceit they had practiced, to be stained with blood, and You struck down slaves upon princes and princes upon their thrones, and You gave up their wives to plunder and their daughters to captivity and all their spoils to be divided among Your beloved sons, who were very zealous for You and abhorred the pollution of their blood and called on You for help. O God, my God, listen to a widow like me. For You made what preceded those things, and those things, and what followed them, and You design the present and future, and what you meditate comes to pass. The things You plan present themselves and say, 'Here we are.' For all Your ways stand ready, and You judge with foreknowledge. For here the Assyrians are multiplied in their might, they are exalted over horse and rider, they glory in the arm of the foot soldiers, they place their hope in shield and spear and bow and sling, and do not know that You are a lord that crushes wars. The Lord is Your name; break their strength with Your might, and shatter their force in Your anger, for they plan to profane Your sanctuary, to pollute the tent where Your glorious name rests, to strike down the horn of Your altar with the sword. Look at their arrogance, direct Your anger upon their heads, put in the hand of a widow like me the strength to do what I have planned. With my deceitful lips strike down the slave with the ruler and the ruler with his servant, break down their state with a woman's hand. For Your strength is not in numbers nor Your might in the strong, but You are the God of the lowly, the helper of the inferior, the champion of the weak, the protector of the neglected, the savior of the despairing. Yes, God of my father, and God of the inheritance of Israel, Lord of the heavens and the earth, Creator of the waters, King of all Your creation, hear my prayer and make my deceitful words the wound and stripe of those who have planned such cruelty against Your agreement and Your consecrated house, and Mount Zion and the house Your sons possess. Make Your whole nation and every tribe to know and understand that You are God, the God of all power and might, and that the nation of Israel has not protector but you."
Lord God of my father Symeon, in whose hand You put a sword to take vengeance on the aliens who had loosened a maiden's headdress to defile her and stripped her thigh to shame her, and profaned her womb to disgrace her; for you said, 'It must not be done,' yet they did it. So You gave up their rulers to be killed, and their bed, which was ashamed of the deceit they had practiced, to be stained with blood, and You struck down slaves upon princes and princes upon their thrones, and You gave up their wives to plunder and their daughters to captivity and all their spoils to be divided among Your beloved sons, who were very zealous for You and abhorred the pollution of their blood and called on You for help. O God, my God, listen to a widow like me. For You made what preceded those things, and those things, and what followed them, and You design the present and future, and what you meditate comes to pass. The things You plan present themselves and say, 'Here we are.' For all Your ways stand ready, and You judge with foreknowledge. For here the Assyrians are multiplied in their might, they are exalted over horse and rider, they glory in the arm of the foot soldiers, they place their hope in shield and spear and bow and sling, and do not know that You are a lord that crushes wars. The Lord is Your name; break their strength with Your might, and shatter their force in Your anger, for they plan to profane Your sanctuary, to pollute the tent where Your glorious name rests, to strike down the horn of Your altar with the sword. Look at their arrogance, direct Your anger upon their heads, put in the hand of a widow like me the strength to do what I have planned. With my deceitful lips strike down the slave with the ruler and the ruler with his servant, break down their state with a woman's hand. For Your strength is not in numbers nor Your might in the strong, but You are the God of the lowly, the helper of the inferior, the champion of the weak, the protector of the neglected, the savior of the despairing. Yes, God of my father, and God of the inheritance of Israel, Lord of the heavens and the earth, Creator of the waters, King of all Your creation, hear my prayer and make my deceitful words the wound and stripe of those who have planned such cruelty against Your agreement and Your consecrated house, and Mount Zion and the house Your sons possess. Make Your whole nation and every tribe to know and understand that You are God, the God of all power and might, and that the nation of Israel has not protector but you."
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