The Children's Bible

Part 1

Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

THE CHILDREN'S BIBLE

SELECTIONS FROM THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS TRANSLATED AND ARRANGED

BY HENRY A. SHERMAN HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS LITERATURE OF CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

AND

CHARLES FOSTER KENT WOOLSEY PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE IN YALE UNIVERSITY

"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God"]

NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS MCMXXXVI

COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages, including Scandinavian

Printed in the United States of America

PREFACE

"The Children's Bible" provides, in simple English, a translation of selections from both the Old and the New Testament. These selections have been made as a result of more than twenty-five years of observation and study. The text is that of the Bible itself, but in the language of the child, so that it may easily be read to the younger children and by those who are older. It is not in words of one syllable, for while the child is reading the Bible he should gradually learn the meaning of new words and idioms.

The Bible contains the foundations on which the religious life of the child must be built. The immortal stories and songs of the Old and New Testaments are his richest inheritance from the past. To give him this heritage in language and form that he can understand and enjoy is the duty and privilege of his parents and teachers.

It is hoped that "The Children's Bible" will meet the need and the demand, which parents and educators alike have long felt and often expressed, for a simple translation of selections from the Bible most suited to the needs and the interests of the child. It is also believed that after the child has learned to appreciate and love these stories and songs, he will be eager and able to read the Bible as a whole with genuine interest and understanding.

CONTENTS

THE OLD TESTAMENT

PAGE

THE STORY OF CREATION 3

GOD'S GOOD GIFTS TO MAN 4

THE FIRST DISOBEDIENCE 5

CAIN AND HIS BROTHER ABEL 6

NOAH AND THE GREAT FLOOD 7

THE STORY OF THE TOWER OF BABEL 9

ABRAHAM THE FRIEND OF GOD AND MAN 10

LOT'S ESCAPE FROM A WICKED CITY 11

GOD'S CARE FOR THE BOY ISHMAEL 14

ABRAHAM'S LOYALTY TO GOD 14

Part 2

HOW REBEKAH BECAME THE WIFE OF ISAAC 15

HOW JACOB DECEIVED HIS FATHER 19

JACOB'S DREAM 21

THE DECEIVER DECEIVED 22

MEETING A BROTHER WHO HAD BEEN WRONGED 24

JOSEPH SOLD AS A SLAVE BY HIS BROTHERS 26

JOSEPH'S EAGERNESS TO HELP OTHERS 27

A PRISONER WHO BECAME A MIGHTY RULER 29

THE TESTING OF JOSEPH'S BROTHERS 32

JOSEPH'S FORGIVENESS OF HIS BROTHERS 36

JOSEPH'S LOYALTY TO HIS FAMILY 38

THE BOYHOOD AND TRAINING OF MOSES 40

THE VOICE FROM THE BUSH 42

PHARAOH THE STUBBORN RULER 44

THE COST OF BEING CRUEL AND STUBBORN 45

THE ESCAPE FROM EGYPT 49

GOD'S COMMANDS TO THE PEOPLE 52

OUR DUTIES TO GOD AND MAN 54

THE REPORT OF THE HEBREW SPIES 55

THE LAST WORDS OF MOSES 56

CROSSING THE RIVER JORDAN 57

THE CAPTURE OF JERICHO AND AI 60

WOMEN WHO SAVED A NATION 62

GIDEON'S BRAVE BAND 64

JEPHTHAH'S FOOLISH PROMISE 67

SAMSON WHO DID TO OTHERS AS THEY DID TO HIM 69

A STRONG MAN WHO LOST HIS STRENGTH 71

THE DEVOTION OF RUTH 74

Part 3

SAMUEL THE BOY PROPHET 78

THE ARK AMONG THE PHILISTINES 81

HOW SAMUEL FOUND A LEADER 84

JONATHAN'S BRAVE DEED 87

DAVID'S VICTORY OVER THE GIANT 90

SAUL'S MEAN JEALOUSY 93

JONATHAN'S LOVE FOR DAVID 94

THE COST OF A LIE 97

A SOLDIER WHO SPARED HIS ENEMY 98

ABIGAIL'S SENSIBLE ADVICE 101

MAKING THE BEST OF TROUBLE 103

THE DEATH OF TWO BRAVE WARRIORS 106

A SHEPHERD BOY WHO WAS CALLED TO LEAD A NATION 109

JERUSALEM MADE THE CAPITAL CITY 111

DAVID'S KINDNESS TO JONATHAN'S SON 112

A RICH MAN WHO WAS A THIEF 113

ABSALOM THE UNGRATEFUL SON 115

A BROKEN-HEARTED FATHER 119

HOW SOLOMON BECAME THE RULER OF ISRAEL 120

A YOUNG MAN'S WISE CHOICE 123

BUILDING A GREAT TEMPLE 124

A RULER WHO WRONGED HIS PEOPLE 125

REHOBOAM'S GREAT MISTAKE 127

ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW'S SON 128

THE PROPHET OF FIRE 130

GOD'S LOW WHISPER 132

AHAB THE THIEF 134

MICAIAH'S COURAGE IN TELLING THE TRUTH 135

Part 4

THE MANTLE OF ELIJAH 137

ELISHA HEALING THE SICK BOY 138

A SLAVE GIRL WHO HELPED HER MASTER 139

ELISHA'S WAY OF TREATING ENEMIES 141

THE END OF AHAB'S SELFISH FAMILY 144

THE BOY JOASH ON THE THRONE OF JUDAH 146

A YOUNG MAN WHO SAID, "SEND ME" 147

JEREMIAH'S CALL TO DO A HARD TASK 148

THE YOUNG JOSIAH AND THE BOOK OF THE LAW 149

THE WRITING OF AN ANCIENT BOOK 151

A PROPHET WHO SAVED A GREAT CITY 153

JEREMIAH'S COURAGE IN DANGER 155

THE SAD FATE OF A GUILTY NATION 156

THE COURAGE OF FOUR CAPTIVES 158

A KING'S STRANGE DREAM 159

THE TEST BY FIRE 162

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL 164

DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN 166

QUEEN ESTHER'S LOVE FOR HER PEOPLE 167

REBUILDING THE TEMPLE 174

NEHEMIAH'S ANSWER TO A CALL FOR HELP 175

OVERCOMING GREAT DIFFICULTIES 177

A BRAVE KNIGHT 179

JONAH THE NARROW-MINDED PATRIOT 180

THE STORY OF JOB 182

THE KING OF GLORY 190

GOD THE LOVING CREATOR 191

GOD THE LOVING FATHER 193

Part 5

GOD FROM WHOM ALL GOOD THINGS COME 194

GOD'S GOODNESS AND MERCY 194

GOD THE ALL-SEEING 195

GOD WHO ALWAYS WATCHES OVER HIS PEOPLE 197

GOD WHO PROTECTS FROM ALL DANGER 197

GOD'S PROTECTION OF THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM 199

GOD'S LOVING CARE 200

TRUSTING IN GOD'S CARE 201

A PRAYER OF TRUST 201

SAFETY IN GOD'S CARE 202

GOD OUR REFUGE 203

THE JOY OF WORSHIPPING GOD 204

WHAT GOD ASKS OF THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM 205

A CALL TO PRAISE GOD 206

THE UNITED SONG OF PRAISE 206

MAN'S PLACE IN GOD'S WORLD 208

THE REWARD OF DOING RIGHT 208

A PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS 209

THE REWARDS OF LISTENING TO THE ADVICE OF THE WISE 211

WHAT GOD LIKES AND DISLIKES 212

GOD'S CARE FOR THOSE WHO TRY TO DO RIGHT 213

THE WAY TO BE WELL AND HAPPY 214

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING WILLING TO LEARN 214

HOW TO HONOR YOUR PARENTS 215

THE TROUBLES OF THOSE WHO ARE LAZY 216

THINGS THAT ARE BETTER THAN RICHES 216

RIGHT EATING AND DRINKING 217

THE RIGHT USE OF THE TONGUE 218

Part 6

THE CONTROL OF THE TEMPER 218

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MODEST 219

BEING GENEROUS AND LOVING 219

THE NEW TESTAMENT

JESUS IS BORN AT BETHLEHEM 223

THE WISE MEN BRING GIFTS TO THE YOUNG CHILD 224

THE BOY JESUS ASKS QUESTIONS 225

JOHN THE BAPTIST TELLS OF JESUS' WORK 225

JESUS DECIDES HOW HE WILL DO HIS WORK 226

JESUS WINS DEVOTED FRIENDS 227

THE WEDDING AT CANA 228

THE HEALING OF THE TEN LEPERS 229

HEALING THE MAN AT THE POOL 229

JESUS TALKS WITH A SAMARITAN WOMAN 230

GIVING LIFE TO A WIDOW'S SON 231

JESUS HEALS THE SICK 232

JESUS CURES A MAN WHO CANNOT WALK 233

JESUS MAKES EVEN WRONG-DOERS HIS FRIENDS 233

JESUS FINDS JOY IN ALL HIS WORK 234

JESUS CALMS THE STORM 235

JESUS HEALS A LITTLE GIRL 236

JESUS VISITS HIS OLD HOME 237

JESUS CALLS TOGETHER HIS FRIENDS AND HELPERS 238

WHAT JESUS ASKS OF HIS FRIENDS AND HELPERS 238

THE WAY TO LEARN FROM JESUS 239

THE REWARDS FOR FOLLOWING JESUS' TEACHINGS 241

GOD'S LOVE EVEN FOR SINNERS 242

GOD'S READINESS TO ANSWER PRAYER 243

Part 7

HOW TO PRAY 244

WHY WE SHOULD TRUST GOD 245

THE KINGDOM OF GOD 245

THE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS 247

THE REWARDS OF MODESTY AND UNSELFISHNESS 247

HOW TO USE MONEY 248

DIFFERENT WAYS OF USING TALENTS 249

THE GOOD SAMARITAN 250

THE WAY TO TREAT THOSE WHO WRONG US 250

THE GOLDEN RULE 251

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY HAPPY 252

JESUS SENDS OUT THE FIRST MISSIONARIES 252

JESUS PRAISES JOHN THE BAPTIST 253

JESUS FEEDS THE HUNGRY 254

JESUS TELLS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CLEAN 256

JESUS IS KIND TO A STRANGER 256

JESUS MAKES AN HEROIC CHOICE 257

JESUS IS GLORIFIED 258

JESUS TELLS HOW ONE MAY BECOME GREAT 258

JESUS MAKES THE WICKED ZACCHEUS HIS FRIEND 259

JESUS IS GLADLY WELCOMED BY THE PEOPLE 259

JESUS FIGHTS WRONG IN THE TEMPLE 260

JESUS CONDEMNS THOSE WHO PRETEND TO BE GOOD 262

JESUS WARNS HIS DISCIPLES 263

JESUS CURES A BLIND MAN 264

JESUS TELLS WHAT HE CAME TO DO 265

JESUS BRINGS LAZARUS BACK TO LIFE 266

JESUS PRAISES A WOMAN WHO GAVE HER BEST 268

Part 8

JESUS EATS THE LAST SUPPER WITH HIS DISCIPLES 268

JESUS ENCOURAGES HIS FRIENDS AND HELPERS 269

JESUS IS SEIZED BY THE MOB 271

JESUS IN THE HANDS OF HIS ENEMIES 272

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