O HEAR ye this, all ye people; * ponder it with your ears, all ye that dwell in the world;
 
High and low, rich and poor, * one with another.
 
My mouth shall speak of wisdom, * and my heart shall muse of understanding.
 
I will incline mine ear to the parable, * and show my dark speech upon the harp.
 
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, * when wickedness at my heels compasseth me round about?
 
There be some that put their trust in their goods, * and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches.
 
But no man may deliver his brother, * nor give a ransom unto God for him,
 
(For it cost more to redeem their souls, * so that he must let that alone for ever;)
 
That he shall live alway, * and not see the grave.
 
For he seeth that wise men also die and perish together, * as well as the ignorant and foolish, and leave their riches for other.
 
And yet they think that their houses shall continue for ever, and that their dwelling-places shall endure from one generation to another; * and call the lands after their own names.
 
Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not, * seeing he may be compared unto the beasts that perish;
 
This their way is very foolishness; * yet their posterity praise their saying.
 
They lie in the grave like sheep; death is their shepherd; and the righteous shall have dominion over them in the morning: * their beauty shall consume in the sepulchre, and have no abiding.
 
But God hath delivered my soul from the power of the grave; * for he shall receive me.
 
Be not thou afraid, though one be made rich, * or if the glory of his house be increased;
 
For he shall carry nothing away with him when he dieth, * neither shall his pomp follow him.
 
For while he lived, he counted himself an happy man; * and so long as thou doest well unto thyself, men will speak good of thee.
 
He shall follow the generation of his fathers, * and shall never see light.
 
Man that is in honour but hath no understanding * is compared unto the beasts that perish.

Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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