Lectionary Readings for Friday, May 17th, 2019

Book of Wars Against Jehovih Chapters XXVI and XXVII

Chapter XXVI

1. Great was the feast, the pomp and parade and glory, in Hored, when De’yus’victorious
Gods and their companions and attendants came in answer to the summons of Anuhasaj,
alias the Lord God. The trumpeters of Hored were stationed along more than a
thousand miles on the heavenly roadways, and in turn the trumpeters and heralds of
the visiting Gods extended in advance of the Gods themselves an equally great distance.

2. All the way were the roads lined with flags and banners, and millions of spectators, the
same who had formerly been in schools and colleges in heaven, but were now
emancipated from the restrictions of self-improvement, and used as applauders, to sing
and shout praises to De’yus (Dyaus) for his own glory.

3. The table of the feast was private and in secret, and only prepared for the Gods and
their close companions, one hundred all told, but the serving host numbered more than
one million souls.

4. Whilst at the feast, De’yus said to Osiris: Speak thou of thy exploits, and of Baal and
Ashtaroth and their valorous legions.

5. Then Osiris explained the nature of the earth countries, and of the battles and incidents,
well exaggerating the last result. After Osiris had finished his story, De’yus said to Te-in:
Speak thou of thy exploits, and of thy generals and captains, and of thy valorous legions.

6. Whereupon, Te-in displayed the maps of the earth regions where he had been, and his
battles, and final success, also much exaggerated. And now, after he had finished his
story, De’yus said to Sudga: Speak thou of thy generals and captains and thy valorous
legions.

7. Then Sudga explained the earth region where he had fought and won, extolling his
generals and captains, and his hosts, well exaggerated also.

8. When they had all finished their hilarious accounts, and applauded one another in
sufficient zeal, in that same time the feast of eating and drinking was ended also.
Whereupon Anuhasaj rose up and said:

9. I now declare the feast ended. Let the tables be removed. Behold, I will speak from the
throne, in private, before my five Gods only, save mine own marshals. But unto all others
I declare a time of recreation and sport, to be called again to duty when I have finished
with my Gods, of which my marshals will inform the trumpeters, who shall sound the
call.

10. Speedily, now, the attendants took away the tables; and the hosts all withdrew, save
the Gods and De’yus and his marshals. Whereupon De’yus ascended the throne, and then
spake, saying:

11. I, the Lord your God, who am De’yus of heaven and earth, declare unto you, my Gods
and earth rulers, in mine own name, and with love abounding:

12. To declare my doctrines and creations before you; that all the earth may be subdued
alike unto me and mine forever.

13. To surpass not mine own age in my doctrines, nor to explain my axioms. But
to surpass the understanding of mortals sufficiently unto their knowledge of earthly
things, and so appease their curiosity, as to the questions they put to ye, my Gods.

14. Neither will I bind myself as Ahura did; for I will not explain who I am, save that man
is in mine own likeness; nor when the beginning of things was.

15. This heaven I created; and ye also bear witness that I have established the earth in me,
through your valorous deeds.

16. I, who am your God, look not to matters of a day, or a year; my times are as one
time, for from this time forth forever this heaven and earth are mine, time without end.

17. In which ye behold days and years and the generations of men on the earth pass
rapidly. Who, then, shall think seriously of the inhabitants that now are yours and mine?

18. Behold, the earth is fruitful; a thousand years are but as one day; and there shall spring
up out of the earth thousands of millions of souls newborn. For them are my answers
shaped, more than for such as now are.

19. In the beginning I created this heaven and the earth (unto mine own name and glory).
For they were void and without order; darkness was upon them. Whereupon I
moved upon them, saying: Let there be light; and there was light. And I drew a
line betwixt darkness and light (for they had worshipped the void instead of me).

20. Wherefrom I declare this the morning and evening of the first day. And I have divided
those that were void, and established my firmament betwixt them, even as land betwixt
water and water.

21. And my firmament is heaven, and I have made it to be over such as were void, like
water.

Chapter XXVII

1. Osiris, being commanded of God to speak, said: Give us one day, O De’yus, that we
may digest this matter.

2. Thereupon the Lord God gave them one day; and on the next day, when they were
assembled, the Gods ratified every word De’yus had spoken. And it was called the
morning and evening of the second day.

3. Again De’yus spake, saying: Let the waters of the earth be in one place, and the
land appear unto itself, for it was so. And I saw that the earth was good (and that
heaven might reign thereon). And I saw that the earth brought forth grass, and trees,
and fruit, and seeds, everything after its own kind; and I said: Behold, they are good.
(Neither attributed I evil unto anything on the earth, or in the waters, or in the air above.
But I separated the light from darkness; this was the substance of my creation).

4. Again Osiris asked for a day, that the Gods might weigh the words of the Lord God;
and this was the evening of the third day. And God gave them a day; and when they were
again assembled, De’yus said:

5. Let there be Gods in the firmament above the earth; and they shall separate
the darkness from the light of the earth (that man may know me and my kingdoms).

6. And my Gods shall teach signs and seasons, and days and years, forever, unto the sons
of men. And I made myself to rule the light of the world; but Osiris I made to rule the
darkness of the world, which is the earth, my footstool.

7. Again De’yaus gave the Gods one day, to weigh the matter of his words, and to ratify
them; which they did. And this was the morning of the fourth day.

8. Again De’yus said: Let the waters of the earth bring forth abundantly the moving
creatures that live; and let the fowl fly above the earth in the air of the firmament. For
they are good. Let them be fruitful and multiply, every living creature, and fill the air
above the earth, every creature after its own kind. Wherefore my blessing is upon them.

9. Again the Lord God gave his Gods a day to weigh his words and ratify them, which
they did; and this was the morning of the fifth day. And then De’yus said: And now, my
Gods, let us make man in our own fashion; and in likeness of ourselves, let them have
dominion also, but over the fish in the waters, and the fowl in the air, and over the cattle,
and over the earth, and over every living creature upon the earth. And ye shall go to them
and say to them: In our own likeness are ye created, male and female, and God’s blessing
is upon you. Be ye fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it; and
have dominion over the earth, and the fishes, and fowl, and every living creature on the
earth, for they are yours forever! And behold, ye have every herb, and seed, and
fruit, which is on the face of the earth, and the roots that grow in the earth, and they
shall be your food. But of whatsoever hath breathed the breath of life man shall not eat.

10. Again De’yus gave the Gods a day of rest, in order to weigh the matter and ratify it;
and this was the morning of the sixth day.

11. And again De’yus spake, saying: The Lord your God said unto thee, Osiris; and to
thee, Te-in; and to thee, Sudga: Search thou amongst mortals for one high in su’is, for
when I announce my doctrines, thou shalt go to such mortal and cause him to write my
words, saying: Such are the words of the Lord, thy God. In answer to which I bid ye all
now speak before me.

12. Osiris said: According to thy commandments have I searched and have found Thoth
the highest man in su’is, and he dwelleth in Arabin’ya.

13. Then spake Te-in, saying: In like manner, also searched I, and found Hong, in my
division of the earth, the highest man in su’is; and he dwelleth in Ho’e’Sin.

14. Then answered Sudga, saying: Even so have I accomplished in Vind’yu, and I have
found one Anj-rajan.

15. De’yus said: To these mortals go ye and give my doctrines in your own ways;
according to the language of mortals, and their capacity to understand. Neither bind I you
to my exact words, nor limit you, save that that I have spoken shall be the foundation.

16. Thus, then, endeth the feast; and behold, it is the seventh day; for which reason I
sanctify it and declare it a day of recreation.