He advises then, to be humble, and, follow the
examples of Jesus, and of holy men in all ages.
FOR Christ is theirs who are
humble, and not who exalt
themselves over his flock. The
sceptre of the majesty of God, our
Lord Jesus Christ, came not in
the show of pride and arrogance,
though he could have done so;
but with humility as the Holy
Ghost had before spoken
concerning him.
2 For thus he saith, Lord, who
hath believed our report, and to
whom is the arm of the Lord
revealed; For he shall grow up
before him as a tender plant, and
as a root out of a dry ground;
3 He hath no form or comeliness,
and when we shall see him, there
is no beauty that we should desire
him.
4 He is despised and rejected of
men; a man of sorrows and acquainted
with grief.
5 And we hid, as it were, our
faces from him; he was despised,
and we esteemed him not.
6 Surely he hath borne our
griefs, and carried our sorrows
yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted.
7 But he was wounded for our
transgressions; he was bruised for
our iniquities; the chastisement
of our peace was upon him; and
with his stripes we are healed.
8 All we like sheep have gone
astray; we have turned every one
to his own way; and the Lord hath
laid on him the iniquity of us all.
9 He was oppressed, and he was
afflicted, yet he opened not his
mouth: he is brought as a lamb to
the slaughter; and as a sheep
before her shearers is dumb,
so he openeth not his mouth.
10 He was taken from prison
and from judgment; and who shall
declare this generation? For he
was cut off out of the land of the
living: for the transgression of my
people was he stricken.
11 And he made his grave with
the wicked, and with the rich in
his death; because he had done no
violence, neither was any deceit
in his mouth.
12 Yet it pleased the Lord to
bruise him; he hath put him to
grief: when thou shalt make his
soul an offering for sin, he shall
see his seed, he shall prolong his
days, and the pleasure of the Lord
shall prosper in his hand.
13 He shall see of the travail
of his soul, and shall be satisfied:
by his knowledge shall my righteous
servant justify many; for he shall
bear their iniquities.
14 Therefore will I divide him
a portion with the great, and he
shall divide the spoil with the
strong; because he hath poured
out his soul unto death; and he
was numbered with the transgressors,
and he bare the sin of many, and
made intercession for the
transgressors.
15 And again he himself saith,
I am a worm and no man, a reproach
of men, and despised of the people.
All they that see me laugh me to
scorn; they shoot out their lips,
they shake their heads, saying;
He trusted in the Lord that he
would deliver him, let him
deliver him seeing he delighted
in him.
16 Ye see, beloved, what the
pattern is that has been given to
us. For if the Lord thus humbled
himself, what should we do who
are brought by him under the
yoke of his grace?
17 Let us be followers of those
who went about in goat-skins, and
sheep-skins; preaching the coming
of Christ.
18 Such were Elias, and Eliaxus,
and Ezekiel, the prophets,
And let us add to these, such
others as have received the like
testimony.
19 Abraham has been greatly
witnessed of; having been called
the friend of God. And yet he
steadfastly beholding the glory of
God, says with all humility, I am
dust and ashes.
20 Again of Job, it is thus
written, That he was just, and
without blame, true; one that served
God, and abstained from all evil.
Yet he accusing himself, said, No
man is free from pollution, no,
not though he should live but one
day.
21 Moses was called faithful in
all God's House; and by his conduct
the Lord punished Israel by stripes
and plagues.
22 And even this man, though
thus greatly honoured, spake not
greatly of himself; but when the
oracle of God was delivered to him
out of the bush, he said, Who
am I, that thou dost send me? I
am of a slender voice, and a slow
tongue.
23 And again he saith, I am as
the smoke of the pot.
24 And what shall we say of
David, so highly testified of in the
Holy Scriptures? To whom God said,
I have found a man after my own
heart, David the son of Jesse,
with my holy oil have I anointed
him.
25 But yet he himself saith unto
God, Have mercy upon me, O God,
according to thy loving kindness;
according unto the multitude of
thy tender mercies, blot out my
transgressions.
26 Wash me thoroughly from
mine iniquity, and cleanse me
from my sin. For I acknowledge
my transgressions, and my sin is
ever before me.
27 Against Thee only have I
sinned, and done this evil in
thy sight; that thou mightest
be justified when thou speakest;
and be clear when thou judgest.
28 Behold I was shapen in
iniquity, and in sin did my mother
conceive me.
29 Behold, thou desirest truth
in the inward parts; and in the
hidden part thou shalt make me to
know wisdom.
30 Purge me with hyssop, and
I shall be clean: wash me, and I
shall be whiter than snow.
31 Make me to hear joy and
gladness, that the bones which
thou hast broken may rejoice.
32 Hide thy face from my sins,
and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart O God;
and renew a right spirit
within me.
34 Cast me not away from thy
presence, and take not thy holy
spirit from me.
35 Restore unto me the joy of
thy salvation, and uphold me with
thy free spirit.
36 Then will I teach transgressors
thy ways, and sinners shall be
converted unto thee.
37 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness,
O God, thou God of my salvation;
and my tongue shall sing aloud
of thy righteousness.
38 O Lord open thou my lips,
and my mouth shall show forth
thy praise.
39 For thou desirest not sacrifice,
else would I give it; thou
delightest not in burnt-offerings.
40 The sacrifices of God are
a broken spirit; a broken and a
contrite heart, O God, thou wilt
not despise.