CHAPTER1
Gad,theninthsonofJacobandZilpah. Shepherdandstrongmanbutamurderer atheart.Verse25isanotabledefinition ofhatred
1ThecopyofthetestamentofGad,what thingshespakeuntohissons,inthe hundredandtwenty-fifthyearofhislife, sayinguntothem:
2Hearken,mychildren,Iwastheninth sonborntoJacob,andIwasvaliantin keepingtheflocks.
3AccordinglyIguardedatnightthe flock;andwheneverthelioncame,orthe wolf,oranywildbeastagainstthefold,I pursuedit,andovertakingitIseizedits footwithmyhandandhurleditabouta stone'sthrow,andsokilledit.
4NowJosephmybrotherwasfeeding theflockwithusforupwardsofthirty days,andbeingyoung,hefellsickby reasonoftheheat.
5AndhereturnedtoHebrontoourfather, whomadehimliedownnearhim, becausehelovedhimgreatly.
6AndJosephtoldourfatherthatthesons ofZilpahandBilhahwereslayingthe bestoftheflockandeatingthemagainst thejudgementofReubenandJudah.
7ForhesawthatIhaddeliveredalamb outofthemouthofabear,andputthe beartodeath;buthadslainthelamb, beinggrievedconcerningitthatitcould notlive,andthatwehadeatenit.
8AndregardingthismatterIwaswroth withJosephuntilthedaythathewassold.
9Andthespiritofhatredwasinme,and IwishednoteithertohearofJosephwith theears,orseehimwiththeeyes, becauseherebukedustoourfaces sayingthatwewereeatingoftheflock withoutJudah.
10Forwhatsoeverthingshetoldour father,hebelievedhim.
11Iconfessnowmygin,mychildren, thatoftentimesIwishedtokillhim, becauseIhatedhimfrommyheart.
12Moreover,Ihatedhimyetmorefor hisdreams;andIwishedtolick1him outofthelandoftheliving,evenasan oxlickethupthegrassofthefield.
13AndJudahsoldhimsecretlytothe Ishmaelites.
14ThustheGodofourfathersdelivered himfromourhands,thatweshouldnot workgreatlawlessnessinIsrael.
15Andnow,mychildren,hearkentothe wordsoftruthtoworkrighteousness,and allthelawoftheMostHigh,andgonot astraythroughthespiritofhatred,forit isevilinallthedoingsofmen.
16Whatsoeveramandoeththehater abominatethhim:andthoughaman workeththelawoftheLord,hepraiseth himnot;thoughamanfeareththeLord, andtakethpleasureinthatwhichis righteous,helovethhimnot.
17Hedispraiseththetruth,heenvieth himthatprospereth,hewelcomethevilspeaking,helovetharrogance,forhatred blindethhissoul;asIalsothenlookedon Joseph.
18Beware,therefore,mychildrenof hatred,foritworkethlawlessnesseven againsttheLordHimself.
19ForitwillnothearthewordsofHis commandmentsconcerningthelovingof one's--neighbour,anditsinnethagainst God
20Forifabrotherstumble,itdelighteth immediatelytoproclaimittoallmen, andisurgentthatheshouldbejudgedfor it,andbepunishedandbeputtodeath 21Andifitbeaservantitstirrethhimup againsthismaster,andwithevery
afflictionitdevisethagainsthim,if possiblyhecanbeputtodeath.
22Forhatredworkethwithenvyalso againstthemthatprosper:solongasit hearethoforseeththeirsuccessitalways languisheth
23Foraslovewouldquickeneventhe dead,andwouldcallbackthemthatare condemnedtodie,sohatredwouldslay theliving,andthosethathadsinned veniallyitwouldnotsuffertolive.
24Forthespiritofhatredworketh togetherwithSatan,throughhastinessof spirits,inallthingstomen'sdeath;but thespiritofloveworkethtogetherwith thelawofGodinlong-sufferinguntothe salvationofmen.
25Hatred,therefore,isevil,forit constantlymatethwithlying,speaking againstthetruth;anditmakethsmall thingstobegreat,andcauseththelightto bedarkness,andcalleththesweetbitter, andteachethslander,andkindlethwrath, andstirrethupwar,andviolenceandall covetousness;itfilleththeheartwith evilsanddevilishpoison.
26Thesethings,therefore,Isaytoyou fromexperience,mychildren,thatye maydriveforthhatred,whichisofthe devil,andcleavetotheloveofGod.
27Righteousnesscastethouthatred, humilitydestroyethenvy.
28Forhethatisjustandhumbleis ashamedtodowhatisunjust,being reprovednotofanother,butofhisown heart,becausetheLordlookethonhis inclination
29Hespeakethnotagainstaholyman, becausethefearofGodovercometh hatred.
30Forfearinglestheshouldoffendthe Lord,hewillnotdowrongtoanyman, eveninthought
31ThesethingsIlearntatlast,afterIhad repentedconcerningJoseph.
32Fortruerepentanceafteragodlysort destroyethignorance,anddrivethaway thedarkness,andenlighteneththeeyes, andgivethknowledgetothesoul,and leadeththemindtosalvation.
33Andthosethingswhichithathnot learntfromman,itknoweththrough repentance
34ForGodbroughtuponmeadiseaseof theliver;andhadnottheprayersof Jacobmyfathersuccouredme,ithad hardlyfailedbutmyspirithaddeparted.
35Forbywhatthingsaman transgressethbythesamealsoishe punished.
36Since,therefore,myliverwasset mercilesslyagainstJoseph,inmyliver tooIsufferedmercilessly,andwas judgedforelevenmonths,forsolonga timeasIhadbeenangryagainstJoseph.
CHAPTER2
Gadexhortshislistenersagainsthatred showinghowithasbroughthimintoso muchtrouble.Verses8-11are memorable.
1Andnow,mychildren,Iexhortyou, loveyeeachonehisbrother,andput awayhatredfromyourhearts,loveone anotherindeed,andinword,andinthe inclinationofthesoul.
2ForinthepresenceofmyfatherIspake peaceablytoJoseph;andwhenIhad goneout,thespiritofhatreddarkened mymind,andstirredupmysoultoslay him
3Loveyeoneanotherfromtheheart; andifamansinagainstthee,speak peaceablytohim,andinthysoulhold
notguile;andifherepentandconfess, forgivehim.
4Butifhedenyit,donotgetintoa passionwithhim,lestcatchingthe poisonfromtheehetaketoswearingand sothousindoubly
5Letnotanothermanhearthysecrets whenengagedinlegalstrife,lesthe cometohatetheeandbecomethyenemy, andcommitagreatsinagainstthee;for ofttimesheaddresseththeeguilefullyor busiethhimselfabouttheewithwicked intent.
6Andthoughhedenyitandyethavea senseofshamewhenreproved,giveover reprovinghim.
7Forbewhodeniethmayrepentsoas notagaintowrongthee;yea,hemayalso honourthee,andfearandbeatpeace withthee.
8Andifhebeshamelessandpersistin hiswrong-doing,evensoforgivehim fromtheheart,andleavetoGodthe avenging.
9Ifamanprosperethmorethanyou,do notbevexed,butprayalsoforhim,that hemayhaveperfectprosperity.
10forsoitisexpedientforyou.
11Andifhebefurtherexalted,benot enviousofhim,rememberingthatall fleshshalldie;andofferpraisetoGod, whogiveththingsgoodandprofitableto allmen.
12SeekoutthejudgmentsoftheLord, andthymindwillrestandbeatpeace.
13Andthoughamanbecomerichby evilmeans,evenasEsau,thebrotherof myfather,benotjealous;butwaitforthe endoftheLord.
14Forifhetakethawayfromaman wealthgottenbyevilmeansHeforgiveth himifherepent,buttheunrepentantis reservedforeternalpunishment
15Forthepoorman,iffreefromenvyhe pleaseththeLordinallthings,isblessed beyondallmen,becausehehathnotthe travailofvainmen
16Putaway,therefore,jealousyfrom yoursouls,andloveoneanotherwith uprightnessofheart.
17Doyealsothereforetellthesethings toyourchildren,thattheyhonourJudah andLevi,forfromthemshalltheLord raiseupsalvationtoIsrael.
18ForIknowthatatthelastyour childrenshalldepartfromHim,andshall walkinOwickedness,andafflictionand corruptionbeforetheLord.
19Andwhenhehadrestedforalittle while,hesaidagain;Mychildren,obey yourfather,andburymeneartomy fathers.
20Andhedrewuphisfeet,andfell asleepinpeace.
21Andafterfiveyearstheycarriedhim uptoHebron,andlaidhimwithhis fathers.