fore leave off strife before quarrelling begins.
Better a dry crust with quietness
Than a house full of feasting with strife.

A just man regards the life of his beast,
But the heart of the wicked is cruel.

He who oppresses the poor reviles his Maker,
But he who has pity on the needy honors him.
He who listens not to the cry of the poor,
He also shall call and not be answered.
He who pities the poor, lends to the Lord
And he will repay him for his good deed.

If your enemy hungers, give him food;
If he thirsts, give him water to drink;
For you will heap coals of fire on his head,
And the Lord will reward you.

Hatred stirs up strife,
But love overlooks faults.
Better a meal of herbs where love is,
Than a fatted ox with hate.

Let not love and truth leave you,
Bind them about your neck;
So you will enjoy favor and a good reputation
In the sight of God and man.

THE NEW TESTAMENT

[Illustration: (C) _Curtis Publishing Company_

_The Nativity_

Painted by W. L. Taylor]

JESUS IS BORN AT BETHLEHEM

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a young woman named Mary in
Nazareth, a town of Galilee. She was to be married to a man named Joseph
of the family of David. When he came to her the angel said: "Hail,
highly honored one! God is with you!"

She was startled by his words and wondered what such a greeting might
mean. But the angel said to her, "Fear not, Mary, for you have found
favor with God. You will have a son and will name him Jesus. He will be
great and will be called the Son of the Most High."

Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, for I am not yet
married." The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you
and the power of the Most High will cover you; therefore your child will
be called holy, the Son of God." Mary said: "I am God's servant. May it
be with me as you say." Then the angel left her.

In those days the Emperor Augustus commanded that every one should be
registered. So all went to be registered, each to his own town. Joseph,
because he was of the family of David, went to be registered with Mary,
his wife, from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea
where David was born. While they were there Mary's first son was born.
And she wrapped him in swaddling-clothes and laid hi