2758 verses about Community

All the people, including the young men, the women, and the children, were gathered together against Ozias, and against the rulers of the city. They cried with a loud voice, and said before all the elders,

And there was great weeping of all with one consent in the midst of the assembly; and they cried to the Lord God with a loud voice.

So she sent her maid, who was over all things that she had, to summon Ozias, Chabris, and Charmis, the elders of her city.

And now, kindred, let us show an example to our kindred, because their soul hangs upon us, and the sanctuary, the house, and the altar rest upon us.

Then Judith said to them, “Hear me, and I will do a thing, which will go down to all generations among the children of our race.

They went out to the gate of the city of Bethulia, and found Ozias and the elders of the city, Chabris and Charmis standing by it.

They have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done this thing, to bring them permission from the council of elders.

It came to pass, when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste to go down to the gate of their city, and they called together the elders of the city.

They all ran together, both small and great, for it was strange to them that she had come. They opened the gate and received them, making a fire to give light, and surrounded them.

All the people were exceedingly amazed, and bowed themselves, and worshipped God, and said with one accord, “Blessed are you, O our God, which have this day brought to nothing the enemies of your people.”

May God turn these things to you for a perpetual praise, to visit you with good things, because you did not spare your life by reason of the affliction of our race, but avenged our fall, walking a straight way before our God.” And all the people said, “Amen! Amen!”

Judith said to them, “Hear me now, my kindred, and take this head, and hang it upon the battlement of your wall.

But when she finished speaking, the people shouted with a loud voice, and made a joyful noise in their city.

Ozias sent to Betomasthaim, Bebai, Chobai, and Chola, and to every coast of Israel, to tell about the things that had been accomplished, and that all should rush upon their enemies to destroy them.

But wnen the children of Israel heard, they all fell upon them with one accord, and struck them to Chobai. Yes, and in like manner also they of Jerusalem and of all the hill country came (for men had told them about what happened in their enemies’ camp), and those who were in Gilead and in Galilee fell upon their flank with a great slaughter, until they were past Damascus and its borders.

Joakim the high priest, and the elders of the children of Israel whe lived in Jerusalem, came to see the good things which the Lord had showed to Israel, and to see Judith, and to salute her.

When they came to her, they all blessed her with one accord, and said to her, “You are the exaltation of Jerusalem! You are the great glory of Israel! You are the great rejoicing of our race!

You have done all these things by your hand. You have done with Israel the things that are good, and God is pleased with it. Blessed be you with the Almighty Lord for evermore.” And all the people said, “Amen!”

And all the women of Israel ran together to see her; and they blessed her, and made a dance among them for her. She took branches in her hand, and distributed them to the women who were with her.

The they made themselves garlands of olive, she and those who were with her, and she went before all the people in the dance, leading all the women. All the men of Israel followed in their armor with garlands, and with songs in their mouths.

And the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for three months, and Judith remained with them.

But after these days, everyone departed to his own inheritance. Judith went away to Bethulia, and remained in her own possession, and was honorable in her time in all the land.

In the third year of his reign, he made a feast for his friends, and the other nations, and for the nobles of the Persians and Medes, and the chief of the satraps.

when the days of the marriage feast were completed, the king made a banquet for the people of the nations who were present in the city for six days, in the court of the king’s house,

And the rest of the Jews who were in the kingdom assembled, and helped one another, and obtained rest from their enemies: for they destroyed fifteen thousand of them on the thirteenth day of Adar, but took no spoil.

And the Jews in the city Susa assembled also on the fourteenth day and rested; and they kept also the fifteenth with joy and gladness.

On this account then it is that the Jews dispersed in every foreign land keep the fourteenth of Adar as a holy day with joy, sending portions each to his neighbor.

And Mordecai wrote these things in a book, and sent them to the Jews, as many as were in the kingdom of Ahasuerus, both them that were near and them that were afar off,

to establish these as joyful days, and to keep the fourteenth and fifteenth of Adar;

for on these days the Jews obtained rest from their enemies; and as to the month, which was Adar, in which a change was made for them, from mourning to joy, and from sorrow to a good day, to spend the whole of it in good days of feasting and gladness, sending portions to their friends, and to the poor.

And the Jews consented to this accordingly as Mordecai wrote to them,

And Mordecai established it, and the Jews took upon themselves, and upon their seed, and upon those that were joined to them to observe it , neither would they on any account behave differently: but these days were to be a memorial kept in every generation, and city, and family, and province.

And these days of the Phrurae, said they, shall be kept for ever, and their memorial shall not fail in any generation.

And Mordecai was viceroy to king Ahasuerus, and was a great man in the kingdom, and honored by the Jews, and passed his life beloved of all his nation. [And Mardocheus said, These things have been done of God. For I remember the dream which I had concerning these matters: for not one particular of them has failed. There was the little spring which became a river, and there was light, and the sun and much water. The river is Esther, whom the king married, and made queen. And the two serpents are I and Haman. And the nations are those nations that combined to destroy the name of the Jews. But as for my nation, this is Israel, even they that cried to God and were delivered: for the Lord delivered his people. And the Lord rescued us out of all these calamities; and God wrought such signs and great wonders as have not been done among the nations. Therefore did he ordain two lots. One for the people of God, and one for all the other nations . And these two lots came for an appointed season, and for a day of judgment, before God, and for all the nations. And God remembered his people, and vindicated his inheritance. And they shall observe these days in the month Adar, on the fourteenth and on the fifteenth day of the month, with an assembly, and joy and gladness before God, throughout the generations for ever among his people Israel. In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemeus and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said he was a priest and Levite, and Ptolemeus his son, brought this epistle of Phurim, which they said was the same, and that Lysimachus the son of Ptolemeus, that was in Jerusalem, had interpreted.]

Get yourself the love of the congregation; And to a great man bow your head.

Let those that are at peace with you be many; But your counselors one of a thousand.

Stand you in the multitude of the elders; And whoso is wise, cleave you to him.

Sin not against the multitude of the city, And cast not yourself down in the crowd.

Be not lacking to those who weep; And mourn with those who mourn.

Be not slow to visit a sick man; For by such things you will gain love.

As well as you can, guess at your neighbors; And take counsel with the wise.

Be not angry with your neighbor for every wrong; And do nothing by works of violence.

Every living creature loves his like, And every man loves his neighbor.

All flesh consorts according to kind, And a man will cleave to his like.

And she will exalt him above his neighbors; And in the midst of the congregation will she open his mouth.

For from one that has understanding will a city be peopled; But a race of wicked men will be made desolate.

No one thrusteth aside his neighbor; And they will never disobey his word.

He that lives forever created all things in common.

The mouth of the prudent man will be sought for in the congregation; And they will ponder his words in their heart.

The foot of a fool is soon in another man’s house; But a man of experience will be ashamed of entering.

Gain trust with your neighbor in his poverty, That in his prosperity you may have gladness: Abide stedfast to him in the time of his affliction, That you may be heir with him in his inheritance.

I will not be ashamed to shelter a friend; And I will not hide myself from his face:

She shall be brought out into the congregation; And upon her children will there be visitation.

Wisdom will praise herself, And will glory in the midst of her people.

Behold that I have not laboured for myself only, But for all those who diligently seek her.

In three things I was beautified, And stood up beautiful before the Lord and men: The concord of kindred, and friendship of neighbors, And a woman and her husband that walk together in agreement.

Among men void of understanding observe the opportunity; But stay continually among the thoughtful.

And a man that is a sinner will trouble friends, And will make debate among those who are at peace.

Who is he? and we will call him blessed: For wonderful things has he done among his people.

His goods shall be made sure, And the congregation shall declare his alms.

Consider your neighbor’s liking by your own; And be discreet in every point.

Him that is liberal of his meat the lips shall bless; And the testimony of his excellence shall be believed.

Him that is a niggard of his meat the city shall murmur at; And the testimony of his niggardness shall be sure.

Rebuke not your neighbor at a banquet of wine, Neither set him at nothing in his mirth: Speak not to him a word of reproach, And press not upon him by asking back a debt.

Have they made you ruler of a feast? Be not lifted up, Be you among them as one of them; Take thought for them, and so sit down.

And when you have done all your office, take your place, That you may be gladdened on their account, And receive a crown for your well ordering.

Speak, you that are the elder, for it becomes you, but with sound knowledge; And hinder not music.

Consider that I laboured not for myself alone, But for all those who seek instruction.

Gather all the tribes of Jacob together, And take them for your inheritance, as from the beginning.

But rather be continually with a godly man, Whom you shall have known to be a keeper of the commandments, Who in his soul is as your own soul, And who will grieve with you, if you shall miscarry.

A wise man shall be filled with blessing; And all those who see him shall call him happy.

My son, let your tears fall over the dead, And as one that suffers grievously begin lamentation; And wind up his body according to his due, And neglect not his burial.

Without these shall not a city be inhabited, And men shall not sojourn nor walk up and down therein.

They shall not be sought for in the council of the people, And in the assembly they shall not mount on high; They shall not sit on the seat of the judge, And they shall not understand the covenant of judgement: Neither shall they declare instruction and judgement; And where parables are they shall not be found.

Nations shall declare his wisdom, And the congregation shall tell out his praise.

Brethren and succour are for a time of affliction; And almsgiving is a deliverer above both.

Of an offence before a judge and ruler; Of iniquity before the congregation and the people; Of unjust dealing before a partner and friend;

Leaders of the people by their counsels, And by their understanding men of learning for the people; Wise were their words in their instruction:

Rich men furnished with ability, Living peaceably in their habitations:

Peoples will declare their wisdom, And the congregation tells out their praise.

Strangers gathered themselves together against him, And envied him in the wilderness, Even Dathan and Abiram with their company, And the congregation of Korah, with wrath and anger.

Also of Nehemiah the memorial is great; Who raised up for us the walls that were fallen, And set up the gates and bars, And raised up our homes again.

And by him was built from the foundation the height of the double wall, The lofty underworks of the inclosure of the temple:

It was he that took thought for his people that they should not fall, And fortified the city against besieging:

How glorious was he when the people gathered round him At his coming forth out of the sanctuary!

And when he received the portions out of the priests’ hands, Himself also standing by the hearth of the altar, His kindred as a garland round about him, He was as a young cedar in Libanus; And as stems of palm trees compassed they him round about,

And all the sons of Aaron in their glory, And the Lord’s offering in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel.

Then he went down, and lifted up his hands Over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, To give blessing to the Lord with his lips, And to glory in his name.

and in the hearing of the mighty men, and of the kings’ sons, and in the hearing of the elders, and in the hearing of all the people, from the least to the greatest, even of all those who lived at Babylon by the river Sud.

they made also a collection of money according to every man’s power:

and they sent it to Jerusalem to Joakim the high priest, the son of Helkias, the son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people which were found with him at Jerusalem,

And you⌃ shall read this book which we have sent to you, to make confession in the house of the Lord, upon the day of the feast and on the days of the solemn assembly.

Let those who dwell about Sion come, and remember you⌃ the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting has brought upon them.

A man lived in Babylon, and his name was Joakim:

Now Joakim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining to his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honorable than all others.

These kept much at Joakim’s house: and all that had any suits in law came to them.

Wherefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said to him, Come, sit down among us, and show it us, seeing God has given you the honor of an elder.

And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them; and she became a habitation of strangers, and she became strange to those who were born in her, and her children forsook her.

And many of Israel came to them, and Mattathias and his sons were gathered together.

And the king’s officers answered and spoke to Mattathias, saying, You are a ruler and an honorable and great man in this city, and strengthened with sons and kindred: