And what shall I yet say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, Barac, Samson, Jephthe, David, Samuel, and the prophets:33 Who by faith conquered kingdoms, wrought justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength from weakness, became valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of foreigners:35 Women received their dead raised to life again. But others were racked, not accepting deliverance, that they might find a better resurrection.36 And others had trial of mockeries and stripes, moreover also of bands and prisons.37 They were stoned, they were cut asunder, they were tempted, they were put to death by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted:38 Of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, in mountains, and in dens, and in caved of the earth.39 And all these being approved by the testimony of faith, received not the promise;40 God providing some better thing for us, that they should not be perfected without us.
Let us be imitators also of those who in goat-skins and sheep-skins [Hebrews 11:37] went about proclaiming the coming of Christ; I mean Elijah, Elisha, and Ezekiel among the prophets, with those others to whom a like testimony is borne [in Scripture]. Abraham was specially honoured, and was called the friend of God; yet he, earnestly regarding the glory of God, humbly declared, "I am but dust and ashes." [Genesis 18:27] Moreover, it is thus written of Job, "Job was a righteous man, and blameless, truthful, God-fearing, and one that kept himself from all evil." [Job 1:1] But bringing an accusation against himself, he said, "No man is free from defilement, even if his life be but of one day." [Job 14:4-5] Moses was called faithful in all God's house; and through his instrumentality, God punished Egypt with plagues and tortures. Yet he, though thus greatly honoured, did not adopt lofty language, but said, when the divine oracle came to him out of the bush, "Who am I, that Thou sendest me? I am a man of a feeble voice and a slow tongue." [Exodus 4:10] And again he said, "I am but as the smoke of a pot."
Ye see, beloved, what is the example which has been given us; for if the Lord thus humbled Himself, what shall we do who have through Him come under the yoke of His grace? Let us be imitators also of those who in goat-skins and sheep-skins [Hebrews 11:37] went about proclaiming the coming of Christ; I mean Elijah, Elisha, and Ezekiel among the prophets, with those others to whom a like testimony is borne [in Scripture].
O how great is the multitude of thy sweetness, O Lord, which thou hast hidden for them that fear thee! Which thou hast wrought for them that hope in thee, in the sight of the sons of men.21 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy face, from the disturbance of men. Thou shalt protect them in thy tabernacle from the contradiction of tongues.22 Blessed be the Lord, for he hath shewn his wonderful mercy to me in a fortified city.23 But I said in the excess of my mind: I am cast away from before thy eyes. Therefore thou hast heard the voice of my prayer, when I cried to thee.24 O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord will require truth, and will repay them abundantly that act proudly.
The mercy of God is not so "marvellous" when it is shown in humbler cities as when it is shown in "a strong city," and for this reason "God is to be blessed."
And they came over the strait of the sea into the country of the Gerasens.2 And as he went out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the monuments a man with an unclean spirit,3 Who had his dwelling in the tombs, and no man now could bind him, not even with chains.4 For having been often bound with fetters and chains, he had burst the chains, and broken the fetters in pieces, and no one could tame him.†5 And he was always day and night in the monuments and in the mountains, crying and cutting himself with stones.6 And seeing Jesus afar off, he ran and adored him.7 And crying with a loud voice, he said: What have I to do with thee, Jesus the Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not.†8 For he said unto him: Go out of the man, thou unclean spirit.9 And he asked him: What is thy name? And he saith to him: My name is Legion, for we are many.10 And he besought him much, that he would not drive him away out of the country.11 And there was there near the mountain a great herd of swine, feeding.12 And the spirits besought him, saying: Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.13 And Jesus immediately gave them leave. And the unclean spirits going out, entered into the swine: and the herd with great violence was carried headlong into the sea, being about two thousand, and were stifled in the sea.14 And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city and in the fields. And they went out to see what was done:15 And they came to Jesus, and they see him that was troubled with the devil, sitting, clothed, and well in his wits, and they were afraid.16 And they that had seen it, told them, in what manner he had been dealt with who had the devil; and concerning the swine.17 And they began to pray him that he would depart from their coasts.18 And when he went up into the ship, he that had been troubled with the devil, began to beseech him that he might be with him.†19 And he admitted him not, but saith to him: Go into thy house to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had mercy on thee.†20 And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men wondered.
But the herdsmen also took to flight, lest they should perish with the swine, and spread the same fear amongst the inhabitants of the town. Wherefore there follows: And they that fed them, &c. The necessity of their loss, however, brought these men to the Saviour; for frequently when God makes men suffer loss in their possessions, he confers a benefit on their souls. Wherefore it goes on: And they came to Jesus, and see him that was tormented by the devil, &c. that is, at the feet of Him from whom he had obtained health; a man, whom before, not even chains could bind, clothed and in his right mind, though he used to be continually naked; and they were amazed; wherefore it says, And they were afraid. This miracle then they find out partly by sight, partly by words; wherefore there follows: And they that saw it told them.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)