Chapter 1

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And now, hearken unto me, all ye that know righteousness; and consider ye the works of God. For He hath a controversy with all flesh, and shall execute judgment upon all that despise Him.

When they were unfaithful and forsook Him, He hid His face from Israel and from His sanctuary, and delivered them up unto the sword. But when He remembered the covenant of the forefathers, He left a remnant unto Israel, and gave them not over to destruction.

And in the era of wrath — three hundred and ninety years after He had given them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon — He visited them. He caused to spring forth from Israel and from Aaron a root of planting, that it might possess His land and grow fat in the goodness of His soil.

And they understood their iniquity; and they knew that they were guilty men. And they were as blind men groping for the way for twenty years. And God considered their works — that with a perfect heart they sought Him. And He raised up unto them a Teacher of Righteousness, that He might guide them in the way of His heart.

He made known unto the latter generation what God had done in the latter generation, with the congregation of the unfaithful — even with them that turn aside from the way. This is the time of which it was written: As a stubborn heifer hath Israel turned aside. When the Scoffer arose, who poured out unto Israel waters of falsehood — he led them astray in a wilderness without a way.

And he caused them to turn aside from the paths of righteousness; that the everlasting covenant might be removed; that they might walk in the stubbornness of their heart; that they might choose what pleased their soul. They have not separated themselves from the people, and from their sins. They have lived in lawlessness, against the precepts of the covenant, saying: There is no covenant; there is no statute.

And the wickedness which they did in violating the covenant of God — God shall visit it upon them in the day of His vengeance. And in the day of judgment shall they perish. They have set their hand against the meek, and have stumbled the upright; they have devised against the holy ones; they have abominated the perfect ones, and have pursued them with the sword.

And they have rejoiced in the controversy of the people. And against all these God shall be wroth. He shall be wroth, and the kindreds shall perish. He shall not have mercy upon them; for they have not repented; they have hardened their neck; they have despised His precepts.