will rebuild it as in the days of old.

9:12. That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all nations,
because my name is invoked upon them: saith the Lord that doth these
things.

9:13. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, when the ploughman shall
overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed: and
the mountains shall drop sweetness, and every hill shall be tilled.

Shall overtake, etc... By this is meant the great abundance of spiritual
blessings; which, as it were, by a constant succession, shall enrich the
church of Christ.

9:14. And I will bring back the captivity of my people Israel: and they
shall build the abandoned cities, and inhabit them: and they shall plant
vineyards, and drink the wine of them: and shall make gardens, and eat
the fruits of them. And I will plant them upon their own land: and I
will no more pluck them out of their land which I have given them, saith
the Lord thy God.

THE PROPHECY OF ABDIAS

ABDIAS, whose name is interpreted THE SERVANT OF THE LORD, is believed
to have prophesied about the same time as OSEE, JOEL, and AMOS: though
some of the Hebrews, who believe him to be the same with ACHAB's
steward, make him much more ancient. His prophecy is the shortest of any
in number of words, but yields to none, says ST. JEROME, in the
sublimity of mysteries. It contains but one chapter.

Abdias Chapter 1

The destruction of Edom for their pride: and the wrongs they did to
Jacob: the salvation and victory of Israel.

1:1. The vision of Abdias. Thus saith the Lord God to Edom: We have
heard a rumour from the Lord, and he hath sent an ambassador to the
nations: Arise, and let us rise up to battle against him.

1:2. Behold I have made thee small among the nations: thou art exceeding
contemptible.

1:3. The pride of thy heart hath lifted thee up, who dwellest in the
clefts of the rocks, and settest up thy throne on high: who sayest in
thy heart: Who shall bring me down to the ground?

1:4. Though thou be exalted as an eagle, and though thou set thy nest
among the stars: thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.

1:5. If thieves had gone in to thee, if robbers by night, how wouldst
thou have held thy peace? would they not have stolen till they had
enough? if the grapegatherers had come in to thee, would they not have
left thee at the least a cluster?

1:6. How have they searched Esau, how have they sought out his hidden
things?

1:7. They h