M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

27 Forsooth Isaac waxed eld, and his eyes dimmed, and he might not see. And he called Esau, his more son, and said to him, My son! Which answered, I am present. (And Isaac grew old, and his eyes dimmed, and he could not see. And he called his elder son Esau, and said to him, My son! And he answered, I am here.)

² To whom the father said, Thou seest that I have waxed eld, and I know not the day of my death^[a].

³ Take thine arms (Take thy weapons), (an) arrow case, and a bow, and go out; and when thou hast taken anything by hunting,

⁴ make me a stew thereof, as thou knowest that I will, and bring it to me that I eat, (so) that (afterward) my soul (can) bless thee before that I die. (make for me a stew out of it, as thou knowest that I like, and bring it to me so that I can eat it, and then I shall bless thee before that I die.)

⁵ And when Rebecca had heard this thing, and he had gone forth into the field that he fulfill the behest of his father,

⁶ she said to her son Jacob, I heard thy father speaking with Esau, thy brother, and saying to him,

⁷ Bring thou to me of thine hunting, and make thou meats, that I eat, and that I bless thee before the Lord before that I die. (Bring thou to me some of thy hunting, and make thou for me some stew, so that I can eat it, and then I shall bless thee before the Lord, before that I die.)

⁸ Now therefore, my son, assent to my counsels,

⁹ and go to the flock, and bring to me twain (of) the best kids, that I make meats of those to thy father, which he shall eat gladly; (and go to the flock, and bring me two of the best goat kids, so that I can make thy father’s favourite meal out of them, which I know that he shall gladly eat;)

¹⁰ and (so) that when thou hast brought in those meats, and he hath eaten, he (shall) bless thee before that he die.

¹¹ To whom Jacob answered, Thou knowest that Esau my brother is an hairy man, and I am smooth;

¹² (so) if my father shall touch (me), or draw me to him, and feel me, I dread lest he guess that I would scorn him, and he bring in cursing on me for blessing (and I bring in a curse upon myself, and not a blessing).

¹³ To whom his mother said, My son, this cursing be in me (My son, any curse shall be upon me); only hear thou my voice, and go, and bring that that I said.

¹⁴ (And so) He went, and brought it, and gave it to his mother. She made ready meats, as she knew that his father would have (And she prepared the meat, in the way that she knew that his father would like it),

¹⁵ and she clothed Jacob in [the] full good clothes of Esau, which she had at home with herself (which she had there at home with her).

¹⁶ And she wrapped his hands about with little skins of (goat) kids, and covered the nakedness of his neck;

¹⁷ and she gave to him the stew (and then she gave him the stew), and betook (to) him [the] loaves, which she had baked.

¹⁸ And when these were brought in, he said, My father! And he answered, I (am) here; (but) who art thou, my son?

¹⁹ And Jacob said, I am Esau, thy first begotten son. I have done to thee as thou commandedest to me; rise thou up, and sit, and eat of my venison, that thy soul bless me. (And Jacob said, I am Esau, thy first-born son. I have done for thee as thou commandedest me; rise thou up, and sit, and eat my venison, and then afterward thou can bless me.)

²⁰ Again Isaac said to his son, My son, how mightest thou find (this) venison so soon? Which answered, It was God’s will, that this thing that I would, should come soon to me. (And Isaac said to his son, My son, how mightest thou find this venison so soon? And Jacob answered, It was God’s will, that what I desired, should come so soon to me.)

²¹ And Isaac said, My son, come thou hither, (so) that I (can) touch thee, and that I prove whether thou be my son Esau, or nay.

²² (And) Jacob nighed to his father; and when Isaac had feeled him, he said, Soothly the voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands be the hands of Esau.

²³ And Isaac knew not Jacob, for the hairy hands showed the likeness of the elder son. Therefore Isaac blessed Jacob (And so that is why Isaac would soon bless Jacob),

²⁴ and (so he) said (again), Art thou my son Esau? (And) Jacob answered, I am.

²⁵ And Isaac said, My son, bring thou to me meats of thine hunting, that my soul bless thee. And when Isaac had eaten these meats brought (to him), Jacob brought also wine to Isaac, and when this was drunken, (And Isaac said, My son, bring thou to me the meats of thy hunting, and then afterward I shall bless thee. And when Isaac had eaten the meat brought to him, Jacob also brought him some wine, and when he had drunk it,)

²⁶ Isaac said to him, My son, come thou hither, and give to me a kiss.

²⁷ Jacob nighed, and kissed him; and anon as Isaac feeled the odour of his clothes, he blessed him, and said, Lo! the odour of my son as the odour of a plenteous field which the Lord hath blessed. (And Jacob came over, and kissed him; and when Isaac smelled the aroma of his clothes, at once he blessed him, saying, Lo! the aroma of my son is like the aroma of a plentiful field which the Lord hath blessed.)

²⁸ God give to thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of [the] earth, (and of the) abundance of wheat, and of wine, and of oil; (May God give thee the dew from heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and an abundance of corn, or of grain, and wine, and oil;)

²⁹ and (may) peoples serve thee, and lineages worship thee; be thou lord of thy brethren, and the sons of thy mother be bowed (low) before thee; be he cursed that curseth thee, and he that blesseth thee, be he [full-]filled with blessings (be they cursed who curse thee, but let those who bless thee, be filled full with blessings).

³⁰ Scarcely Isaac had filled the word, and when Jacob was gone out, Esau came, (Scarcely had Isaac finished speaking, and Jacob had gone out, then Esau came in from his hunting,)

³¹ and brought in meats sodden of the hunting to the father, and said, My father, rise thou, and eat of the hunting of thy son, that thy soul bless me. (and he brought in boiled meats for his father, and said, My father, rise thou up, and eat of thy son’s hunting, and then afterward thou can bless me.)

³² And Isaac said, Who art thou? Which answered, I am Esau, thy first begotten son. (And Isaac said, Who art thou? And Esau answered, I am Esau, thy first-born son.)

³³ Isaac dreaded with a great astonishing; and he wondered more than it may be believed, and said, Who therefore is he which a while ago brought to me venison taken, and I ate of all things before that thou camest; and I blessed him? and he shall be blessed. (And Isaac dreaded with great astonishment; and he wondered more than it can be imagined, and he said, Then who was it, who just a short while ago, brought me the newly caught venison, and I ate all of it before that thou camest in; and I blessed him? and yea, he shall be blessed.)

³⁴ When the words of the father were heard, Esau roared with a great cry, and was astonished, and said, My father, bless thou also me. (And when he heard his father’s words, Esau roared with a great cry, and was astonished, and said, My father, thou must also bless me!)

³⁵ Which said (And Jacob said), Thy brother came prudently [Thy brother came (be)guilingly], and took (away) thy blessing.

³⁶ And Esau added, Justly his name is called Jacob, for lo! he [hath] supplanted me (yet) another time; before he took away my first begotten things, and now the second time, he [hath] ravished privily my blessing. And again he said to the father, Whether thou hast not reserved a blessing also to me? (And Esau added, His name is rightly called Jacob, that is, the Heel, or the Supplanter, for lo! now he hath supplanted me the second time; first he took away my birthright as the first-born son, and now he hath cheated me out of my blessing. And again he said to his father, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?)

³⁷ Isaac answered, I have made him thy lord, and I have made subject all his brethren to his servage; I have stablished him in wheat, and wine, and oil; and (so), my son, what shall I do to thee after these things? (Isaac answered, I have made him thy lord, and I have made all of his brothers to be in servitude to him, that is, to be his slaves; I have established him with corn, or with grain, and wine, and oil; and so now, my son, after all these things, what is left that I can do for thee?)

³⁸ To whom Esau said, Father, whether thou hast only one blessing? I beseech thee, that also thou bless me. And when Esau wept with great yelling, (To whom Esau said, Father, hast thou only one blessing? I beseech thee, that thou also bless me. And when Esau wept with great yelling,)

³⁹ Isaac was stirred, and said to him, Thy blessing shall be (not) in the fatness of [the] earth, and in the dew of heaven from above; (Isaac was stirred, and said to him, Thy dwelling shall be far from the fatness of the earth, and far from the dew of heaven above;)

⁴⁰ thou shalt live by (the) sword, and thou shalt serve thy brother, and (then the) time shall come when thou shalt shake away, and unbind his yoke from [off] thy nolls.

⁴¹ Therefore Esau hated evermore Jacob for the blessing by which the father had blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning of my father shall come, and (then) I shall slay Jacob, my brother. (And so Esau hated Jacob even more for the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father shall come, and then I shall kill my brother Jacob.)

⁴² These things were told to Rebecca, and she sent, and called (for) her son Jacob, and said to him, Lo! Esau, thy brother, menaceth to slay thee (Lo! Esau, thy brother, hath threatened to kill thee);

⁴³ now therefore, my son, hear thou my voice, and rise thou up, and flee to Laban, my brother, into Haran (and flee to my brother Laban, in Haran);

⁴⁴ and thou shalt dwell with him (for) a few days, till the strong vengeance of thy brother rest, and his indignation cease,

⁴⁵ and till he forget those things which thou hast done against him. Afterward I shall send, and I shall bring thee from thence hither. Why shall I be made sonless of ever either son in one day? (and until he forget those things which thou hast done against him. And then afterward I shall send for thee, and I shall bring thee back here. For why should I be deprived of both sons in one day?)

⁴⁶ And Rebecca said to Isaac, It annoyeth me of my life for the daughters of Heth (I am weary to death of the daughters of the Hittites); if Jacob take a wife of the kindred of this land, I will not live.

26 And it was done, when Jesus had ended all these words, he said to his disciples,

² Ye know, that after two days pask shall be made, and man's Son shall be betaken to be crucified.

³ Then the princes of priests and the elder men of the people were gathered into the hall of the prince of priests, that was said Caiaphas,

⁴ and made a counsel to hold Jesus with guile, and slay him; [and made a counsel, that they should hold Jesus with guile, and slay him;]

⁵ but they said, Not in the holiday [soothly they said, Not in the feast day], lest peradventure noise were made in the people.

⁶ And when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leprous,

⁷ a woman that had a box of alabaster of precious ointment, came to him [a woman having a box of alabaster of precious ointment, came nigh to him], and shedded it out on the head of him resting.

⁸ And the disciples seeing had disdain, and said [saying], Whereto is this loss?

⁹ for it might be sold for much [for this might have been sold for much], and be given to poor men.

¹⁰ But Jesus knew, and said to them, What be ye heavy to this woman? for she hath wrought in me a good work [she hath wrought a good work in me].

¹¹ For ye shall ever have poor men with you, but ye shall not always have me. [For why ye shall evermore have poor men with you, but ye shall not all-gates have me.]

¹² For this woman sending this ointment into my body, did [for] to bury me.

¹³ Truly I say to you, where ever this gospel shall be preached in all the world, it shall be said, that she did this, in mind of him [it shall be said and that this woman did, into mind of him].

¹⁴ Then one of the twelve, that was called Judas Iscariot, went forth to the princes of priests [went to the princes of priests],

¹⁵ and said to them, What will ye give to me, and I shall betake him to you? And they ordained to him thirty pieces of silver.

¹⁶ And from that time he sought opportunity [he sought covenability], to betray him.

¹⁷ And in the first day of therf loaves, the disciples came to Jesus, and said^[a], Where wilt thou [that] we make ready to thee, [for] to eat pask?

¹⁸ [And] Jesus said, Go ye into the city to a man, and say to him, The master saith, My time is nigh; at thee I make pask with my disciples.

¹⁹ And the disciples did, as Jesus commanded to them; and they made the pask ready [and they made ready pask].

²⁰ And when the eventide was come, he sat to meat with his twelve disciples. [Forsooth evening made, he sat at the meat with his twelve disciples.]

²¹ And he said to them, as they ate, Truly I say to you, that one of you shall betray me.

²² And they full sorry began each by himself to say, Lord, whether I am he?^[b]

²³ And he answered, and said, He that putteth with me his hand in the platter, [this] shall betray me.

²⁴ Forsooth man's Son goeth, as it is written of him; but woe to that man, by whom man's Son shall be betrayed; it were good to him, if that man had not been born.

²⁵ But Judas that betrayed him, answered, saying, Master, whether I am he? Jesus said to him, Thou hast said. [Forsooth Judas that betrayed him, answered, saying, Master, whether it am I? He said to him, Thou hast said.]

²⁶ And while they supped [Forsooth them supping], Jesus took bread, and blessed [it], and brake, and gave to his disciples, and said, Take ye, and eat; this is my body.

²⁷ And he took the cup, and did thankings, and gave to them, and said [saying], Drink ye all thereof;

²⁸ this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many, into remission of sins.

²⁹ And I say to you, I shall not drink from this time, of this fruit of the vine, [till] into that day when I shall drink it new with you, in the kingdom of my Father.

³⁰ And when the hymn was said, they went out into the mount of Olives.

³¹ Then Jesus said to them, All ye shall suffer cause of stumbling in me, in this night [Then Jesus saith to them, All ye shall suffer offence in me, this night]; for it is written, I shall smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.

³² But after that I shall rise again, I shall go before you into Galilee.

³³ Peter answered, and said to him, Though all [men] shall be caused to stumble in thee, I shall never be caused to stumble.^[c]

³⁴ Jesus said to him, Truly I say to thee, for in this night before the cock crow, thrice thou shalt deny me.

³⁵ Peter said to him, Yea, though it [shall] behoove that I die with thee, I shall not deny thee. Also [and] all the disciples said.

³⁶ Then Jesus came with them into a town, that is said Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go thither, and pray.

³⁷ And when he had taken Peter, and two sons of Zebedee, he began to be heavy and sorry [he began to be sorrowful and heavy in heart].

³⁸ Then he said to them, My soul is sorrowful [till] to the death; abide ye here, and wake ye with me. [Then he saith to them, My soul is sorrowful till to the death; sustain ye, or abide ye, here, and wake ye with me.]

³⁹ And he went forth a little, and felled down [fell down] on his face, praying, and saying, My Father, if it is possible, pass this cup from me [praying, and saying, My Father, if it is possible, this cup pass from me]; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

⁴⁰ And he came to his disciples, and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, So, whether ye might not one hour wake with me^[d]?

⁴¹ Wake ye, and pray ye, that ye enter not into temptation; for the spirit is ready, but the flesh is frail.^[e]

⁴² Again the second time he went, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cup may not pass, but I drink it, thy will be done.

⁴³ And again he came, and found them sleeping; for their eyes were heavied.

⁴⁴ And he left them, and went again, and prayed the third time, and said the same word. [And them left, he went again, and prayed the third time, the same word saying.]

⁴⁵ Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, Sleep ye now, and rest ye; lo! the hour hath approached, and man's Son shall be betaken into the hands of sinners;^[f]

⁴⁶ rise ye, go we; lo! he that shall take me, is nigh. [rise ye, go we; lo! he that shall betray me, hath nighed.]

⁴⁷ [And] Yet while he spake, lo! Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great company, with swords and bats [with swords and staves], sent from the princes of priests, and from the elder men of the people.

⁴⁸ And he that betrayed him, gave to them a token, and said [saying], Whomever I shall kiss, he it is; hold ye him.

⁴⁹ And at once [And anon] he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and he kissed him.

⁵⁰ And Jesus said to him, Friend, whereto art thou come? Then they came nigh, and laid hands on Jesus, and held him.

⁵¹ And lo! one of them that were with Jesus, stretched out his hand, and drew out his sword; and he smote the servant of the prince of priests, and cut off his ear^[g].

⁵² Then Jesus said to him, Turn thy sword into his place; for all that take sword, shall perish by sword.

⁵³ Whether guessest thou, that I may not pray my Father, and he shall give to me now more than twelve legions of angels?

⁵⁴ How then shall the scriptures be fulfilled? for so it behooveth to be done.

⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the people, As to a thief ye have gone out, with swords and bats, [for] to take me; day by day I sat among you, and taught in the temple, and ye held me not.^[h]

⁵⁶ But all this thing was done, that the scriptures of prophets should be fulfilled. Then all the disciples fled, and left him [Then all the disciples fled, him forsaken].

⁵⁷ And they held Jesus, and led him to Caiaphas, the prince of priests, where the scribes and the Pharisees, and the elder men of the people were come together. [And they holding Jesus, led him to Caiaphas, prince of priests, where the scribes and the elder men of the people had come together.]

⁵⁸ But Peter followed him afar, [till] into the hall of the prince of priests; and he went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

⁵⁹ And the prince of priests, and all the council sought false witnessing against Jesus, that they should take him to death; [Forsooth the princes of priests, and all the council sought false witnessing against Jesus, that they should betake him to death;]

⁶⁰ and they found not, when many false witnesses were come. But at the last, two false witnesses came,

⁶¹ and said, This said, I may destroy the temple of God, and after the third day build it again [and after three days built it again].

⁶² And the prince of priests rose, and said to him, Answerest thou nothing to those things, that these witness against thee [which these witness against thee]?

⁶³ But Jesus was still. And the prince of priests said to him, I conjure thee by the living God, that thou say to us, if thou art Christ, the Son of God [that thou say to us, if thou be Christ, the Son of God].

⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, Thou hast said; nevertheless I say to you, hereafter ye shall see man's Son sitting at the right half of the virtue of God [nevertheless, I say to you, from henceforth, ye shall see man's Son sitting at the right half of God's virtue], and coming in the clouds of heaven.

⁶⁵ Then the prince of priests rent his clothes, and said, He hath blasphemed; what yet have we need to witnesses [Then the prince of priests rent his clothes, saying, He hath blasphemed; what yet need have we to witnesses]? lo! now ye have heard blasphemy;

⁶⁶ what seemeth to you? And they answered, and said, He is guilty of death.

⁶⁷ Then they spat in his face, and smote him with buffets; and others gave strokes with the palm of their hands in [into] his face,

⁶⁸ and said, Thou Christ, declare to us, who is he that smote thee? [saying, Thou Christ, prophesy to us, who is he that smote thee?]

⁶⁹ And Peter sat without in the hall; and a damsel came to him, and said^[i], [And] Thou were with Jesus of Galilee.

⁷⁰ And he denied before all [men], and said [saying], I know not what thou sayest.

⁷¹ And when he went out at the gate, another damsel saw him^[j], and said to them that were there, And this was with Jesus of Nazareth.

⁷² And again he denied with an oath, For I knew not the man.

⁷³ And a little after [And after a little], they that stood came, and said to Peter, Truly and thou art [one] of them; for thy speech maketh thee known.

⁷⁴ Then he began to curse and to swear, that he knew not the man. And at once [And anon] the cock crew.

⁷⁵ And Peter bethought on the word of Jesus, that he had said, Before the cock crow, thrice thou shalt deny me. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

3 After these things king Ahasuerus enhanced Haman, the son of Hammedatha, that was of the kindred of Agag, and the king set his throne above all the princes that he had. (And after these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha, who was a descendant of Agag, and the enemy of the Jews, and the king put Haman’s throne above all the other princes, or the leaders, that he had.)

² And all the servants of the king, that served in the gates of the palace, kneeled, and worshipped Haman; for so the emperor had commanded to them; but Mordecai alone bowed not his knees to him, neither worshipped him. (And all the king’s officials, who were in attendance at the royal court, kneeled before Haman, and honoured him; for the king had so commanded them; but Mordecai alone did not bow his knee to Haman, nor show him any respect.)

³ And the servants of the king, that sat above at the gates of the palace, said to Mordecai, Why keepest thou not the commandments of the king, (but doest) otherwise than other men? (And the king’s officials, who were in attendance at the royal court, said to Mordecai, Why followest thou not the king’s commands, like all the other men do?)

⁴ And when they said full oft to him these things, and he would not hear them, they told to Haman, for they coveted to know, whether he continued in the sentence that he had showed to them; for he had said to them, that he was a Jew. (And when they had repeatedly said these things to him, and he would not listen to them, and show respect for Haman, then they told all of this to Haman, for they coveted to know whether Mordecai’s conduct would be tolerated; for Mordecai had said to them, that he was a Jew.)

⁵ And when Haman had heard this thing, and had proved by experience, that Mordecai bowed not his knee to him, neither worshipped him, he was full wroth, (And when Haman had heard about this, and had seen with his own eyes, that Mordecai did not bow his knee to him, or show him any respect, he was enraged,)

⁶ and Haman areckoned it for nought to set his hands upon Mordecai alone, to kill him; for he had heard, that Mordecai was of the folk of Jews, and the more rather he would destroy all the nation of Jews, which were in the realm of Ahasuerus. (but Haman reckoned that it would be useless to only put his hands upon Mordecai; for he had heard that Mordecai was of the nation of the Jews, and so he plotted to destroy the entire nation of the Jews, who were in the kingdom of Ahasuerus.)

⁷ In the first month, whose name is Nisan, that is, April, in the twelfth year of the realm of Ahasuerus, lot was cast into a vessel, the which lot is said in Hebrew pur, before Haman, to know in what day and in what month the folk of Jews ought to be slain; and by the lot the twelfth month went out, that is called Adar, that is, March. (So in the first month, that is called Nisan, or April, in the twelfth year of Ahasuerus’ reign, the lot was cast, which is called pur in Hebrew, in the sight of Haman, to know on what day and on what month the nation of the Jews ought to be destroyed; and by the lot the twelfth month went out, that is called Adar, or March.)

⁸ And then Haman said to king Ahasuerus, A people is scattered by all the provinces of thy realm, and it is separated from itself, and this people useth new laws and ceremonies, and furthermore also it despiseth the behests of the king; and thou knowest best, that it speedeth not to thy realm, that it increase in malice by (thy) license. (And then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a people scattered in all the provinces of thy kingdom, and they be separated unto themselves, and this people useth different laws and statutes, and furthermore they also despise the king’s laws; and thou knowest best, that it profiteth not to thy kingdom, if they increase their malice, yea, by thy license.)

⁹ If it please thee, deem and command thou that this people perish, and I shall pay ten thousand talents of silver to the keepers of thy treasure. (So if it please thee, judge this and then command thou that this people perish, or be destroyed, and I shall even pay ten thousand talents of silver to the keepers of thy treasury unto this end.)

¹⁰ Therefore the king took from his hand the ring which he used, and he gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha, of the kindred of Agag, the enemy of Jews. (And so the king took off the ring, which he used for a signet, from his finger, and he gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.)

¹¹ And the king said to Haman, The silver, which thou promisedest, be thine (own); do thou of the people that, that pleaseth thee (thou may do with these people, whatever pleaseth thee).

¹² And then the scribes, or the writers, of the king were called in the first month of Nisan, that is, April, in the thirteenth day of the same month; and it was written, as Haman had commanded, to all the princes of the king, and to doomsmen of diverse provinces and of folks, that for diversity of language, each folk might read these letters and hear them, in the name of king Ahasuerus. (And then the writers of the king were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, that is called Nisan, or April; and it was written, as Haman had commanded, to all the king’s princes, or leaders, and to the judges, or rulers, of diverse provinces and nations, so that in their own language, each nation might read these letters and hear them, in the name of King Ahasuerus.)

¹³ And letters, asealed with the ring of the king, were sent by the couriers of the king to all his provinces, (with orders) that they should slay, and do away, or destroy, all Jews, from a child to an eld man, little children and women, in one day, that is, in the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, that is called Adar, or March; and that they should (also) take away the goods of the Jews. (And letters, sealed with the king’s ring, that is, with his signet, were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces, with orders that the people should kill, and destroy, all the Jews, from a child unto an old man, women and children alike, in one day, that is, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, that is called Adar, or March; and that they should also take away all the possessions of the Jews.)

¹⁴ And the sentence of the letters was this, written in a few words, that all (the peoples of the) provinces should know (about), and make them(selves) ready, to the foresaid day. (And so in a few words, the sentence of the letters was this, that all the people of the provinces should know about, and prepare themselves for, the coming day of death and destruction.)

¹⁵ And the couriers, that were sent forth, hasted to [ful]fill the commandment of the king; and anon the behest of the king was hanged up in the city of Susa, while the king and Haman made a feast, and all the Jews wept, that were in that city. (And the couriers, who were sent out, hastened to fulfill the king’s command; and the king’s order was also hung up at once in the capital city of Susa; and so while the king and Haman drank together, all the Jews, who were in that city, wept and mourned.)

26 And Agrippa said to Paul, It is suffered to thee, to speak for thyself. Then Paul held forth the hand, and began to yield reason.

² Of all things, in which I am accused of the Jews, thou king Agrippa, I guess me blessed at thee, when I shall defend me this day;

³ most for thou knowest all things that be among Jews, customs and questions. For which thing, I beseech, hear me patiently.

⁴ For all Jews that before knew me from the beginning, know my life from youth; [And soothly all Jews before-witting me from the beginning, have known my life from youth;]

⁵ that from the beginning was in my folk in Jerusalem, if they will bear witnessing, that by the most certain sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. [that from the beginning was in my folk in Jerusalem, if they will bear witness, for after the most certain sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.]

⁶ And now for the hope of repromission, that is made to our fathers of God, I stand subject in doom;

⁷ in which hope our twelve lineages serving night and day hope to come; of which hope, sir king [of which hope, thou king], I am accused of the Jews.

⁸ What unbelieveful thing is deemed at you [What unbelieveful thing is deemed of you], if God raiseth dead men?

⁹ And soothly I guessed, that I ought to do many contrary things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

¹⁰ Which thing also I did in Jerusalem, and I enclosed many of the saints in prison, when I had taken power of the princes of priests. And when they were slain, I brought the sentence. [Which thing and I did in Jerusalem, and I enclosed many of saints in prisons, power taken of the princes of priests. And when they were slain, I gave the sentence.]

¹¹ And by all synagogues oft I punished them, and constrained to blaspheme; and more I waxed mad against them, and pursued [till] into alien cities [and more I waxing mad against them, pursued to alien cities].

¹² In which, [the] while I went to Damascus, with power and suffering of the princes of priests,

¹³ at midday, in the way I saw, sir king, that from heaven a light shined about me, passing the shining of the sun, and about them that were together with me.^[a]

¹⁴ And when we all had fallen down into the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, what pursuest thou me? it is hard to thee, to kick against the prick [it is hard for thee, for to kick against the prick].

¹⁵ And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou pursuest.

¹⁶ But rise up, and stand on thy feet. For why to this thing I appeared to thee, that I ordain thee minister and witness of those things that thou hast seen, and of those things in which I shall show to thee [and of those things in which I shall appear to thee;].

¹⁷ And I shall deliver thee from peoples and folks, to which now I send thee, [delivering thee from peoples and folks, into which now I send thee,]

¹⁸ to open the eyes of them, that they be converted from darkness to light [to open the eyes of them, that they be turned from darknesses to light], and from power of Satan to God, that they take remission of sins, and part among saints [and sort, or part, among saints], by faith that is in me.

¹⁹ Wherefore, sir king Agrippa [Wherefore, thou king Agrippa], I was not unbelieveful to the heavenly vision;

²⁰ but I told [I showed, or told,] to them that be at Damascus first, and at Jerusalem, and by all the country of Judaea, and to heathen men, that they should do penance, and be converted to God, and do worthy works of penance.

²¹ For this cause Jews took me, when I was in the temple, to slay me [and would slay me].

²² But I was helped by the help of God [till] into this day, and stand, witnessing to less and to more [and stand, witnessing to less and more]. And I say nothing else [Nothing saying over] than which things the prophets and Moses spake that shall come,

²³ if Christ is to suffer, if he is the first of the again-rising of dead men^[b], that shall show light to the people and to heathen men.

²⁴ When he spake these things, and yielded reason, Festus said with great voice, Paul, thou maddest [Paul, thou maddest, or waxest mad]; many letters turn thee to madness.

²⁵ And Paul said, I mad not, thou best Festus, but I speak out the words of truth and of soberness [but I speak out the words of truth and soberness].

²⁶ For also the king, to whom I speak steadfastly, knoweth of these things; for I deem, that nothing of these is hid from him; for neither in a corner was aught of these things done.

²⁷ Believest thou, king Agrippa, to prophets? I know that thou believest.

²⁸ And Agrippa said to Paul, In little thing thou counselest me to be made a christian man. [Soothly Agrippa said to Paul, A little thou counselest me for to be made a christian man.]

²⁹ And Paul said, I desire with God, both in little and in great, not only thee, but [and] all these that hear to day, to be made such as I am, except these bonds.

³⁰ And the king rose up, and the president, and Bernice, and they that sat nigh to them.

³¹ And when they went away, they spake together, and said, That this man hath not done any thing worthy death, neither bonds.^[c]

³² And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might be delivered, if he had not appealed to the emperor. [Forsooth Agrippa said to Festus, This man might be dismissed, or delivered, if he had not appealed to Caesar.]