The Parable of the Blessed House and the Ill-Wishers. The First Part
1. There was a father whom the Lord had blessed exceedingly, giving him, of His grace, a land goodly and wide, from the mountains even unto the sea, that his house might dwell therein together, and call upon His name.
2 And the father dealt justly with all his children, giving to every one his portion, that none should lack, and none should say, My brother hath robbed me.
3 Now certain of his sons and daughters had their dwelling in the borders of that land, upon the outward edges thereof; and among them envy was kindled, as fire kindled in dry stubble.
4 For the accuser, whose name is the Devil, beheld their peace and could not abide it; and he sent unto them false witnesses, clothed as counsellors, whose tongues were smoother than oil, but their words were war.
5 And these said unto the envious, Behold, your brethren have taken what was never theirs; rise up, for the inheritance is not for them to hold. And the envious believed the lie, for it was pleasant to their pride.
6 And their pride grew until it swallowed up remembrance; and they forgot the tongue wherein their fathers had called upon the Lord, and their own mouths grew strange to them, and prayer ceased in their dwellings.
7 Then went they about to root out every mention of the Lord that blessed their house; they brake down what their fathers had built, and blotted out His name from the doorposts, saying, We will not have this God to reign over us.
8 And when the fear of God was departed from among them, corruption came in easily, as a thief through an open door; their sons grew false, and their daughters were given up to harlotry; and the righteous that remained wept for it in secret places, and were not comforted.
9 And the envy that had been sown put forth the fruit that is Cain's; brother lifted up his hand against brother, and the ground drank blood — blood that was real, and not a show, and not a play.
10 But they that dwelt afar off, and had no portion nor inheritance in that land, looked upon the slaughter as men look upon a game; and they sent fuel to the burning, and named it aid, and named their profit, peace.
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