Joy

Passages

Every passage tagged with this emotion in the Vela corpus. Search the body text, narrow by source or register, click through to a book’s profile to see how the passage sits with the rest of the work.

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• From The Decameron (1353)

  Now Ferondo was come forth of the sepulchre all pale, as well might he be who had so long abidden without seeing the sky. As soon as he saw the abbot, he ran to cast himself at his feet and said, 'Father mine, according to that which hath been revealed to me, your prayers and those of St. Benedict and my wife have delivered me from the pains of purgatory and restored me to life, wherefore I pray God to give you a good year and good calends now and always.' Quoth the abbot, 'Praised be God His might! Go, my son, since He hath sent thee back hither; comfort thy wife, who hath been still in tears, since thou departedst this life, and henceforth be a friend and servant of God.' 'Sir,' replied Ferondo, 'so hath it indeed been said to me; only leave me do; for, as soon as I find her, I shall buss her, such goodwill do I bear her.' The abbot, left alone with his monks, made a great show of wonderment at this miracle and caused devoutly sing Miserere therefor. As for Ferondo, he returned to his village, where all who saw him fled, as men use to do from things frightful; but he called them back and avouched himself to be raised up again. His wife on like wise feigned to be adread of him; but, after the folk were somewhat reassured anent him and saw that he was indeed alive, they questioned him of many things, and he, as it were he had returned wise, made answer to all and gave them news of the souls of their kinsfolk, making up, of his own motion, the finest fables in the world of the affairs of purgatory and recounting in full assembly the revelation made him by the mouth of the Rangel Bragiel[197] ere he was raised up again. Then, returning to his house and entering again into possession of his goods, he got his wife, as he thought, with child, and by chance it befell that, in due time,--to the thinking of the fools who believe that women go just nine months with child,--the lady gave birth to a boy, who was called Benedict Ferondi.[198] [Footnote 197: _i.e._ the Angel Gabriel.] [Footnote 198: The plural of a surname is, in strictness, always used by the Italians in speaking of a man by his full name, _dei_ being understood between the Christian and surname, as _Benedetto_ (_dei_) _Ferondi_, Benedict of the Ferondos or Ferondo family, whilst, when he is denominated by the surname alone, it is used in the singular, _il_ (the) being understood, _e.g._ (Il) Boccaccio, (Il) Ferondo, _i.e._ the particular Boccaccio or Ferondo in question for the nonce.]

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  23 With them they sent the following letter: “The apostles and the brothers who are the elders, to the brothers and sisters who are from the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, Greetings. 24 “Since we have heard that some of our men have troubled you with their teachings, causing distress and confusion—men to whom we gave no such orders or instructions— 25 it has been decided by us, having met together, to select men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 “So we have sent Judas and Silas, who will report by word of mouth the same things [that we decided in our meeting]. 28 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any greater burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from [consuming] blood, and from [eating the meat of] things that have been strangled, and from sexual impurity. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.” 30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and after assembling the congregation, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, the people rejoiced greatly at the encouragement and comfort [it brought them]. 32 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets (divinely inspired spokesmen), encouraged and strengthened the g believers with many words. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent back by the brothers with [the greeting of] peace to those who had sent them. 34 h [ However, Silas decided to stay there.] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and with many others also continued teaching and proclaiming the good news, the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ]. Paul’s Second Missionary Journey 36 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers and sisters (believers) in every city where we preached the message of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take [his cousin] John, who was called Mark, along with them. 38 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take along with them the one who had quit and deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. 39 And it became such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took [John] Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas [who was again in Antioch] and set out [on his second journey], commended by the brothers to the grace and favor of the Lord. 41 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 16 The Macedonian Vision 1 N OW PAUL traveled to Derbe and also to Lystra.

• From The Decameron (1353)

  What wilt thou do, an she tell her brothers?' The gentleman having now gathered enough of that which it concerned him to know, appeased the friar, as best he knew and might, with many and ample promises, and taking leave of him, waited till matinsong[159] of the ensuing night, when he made his way into the garden and climbed up by the tree to the window. He found the lattice open and entering the chamber as quickliest he might, threw himself into the arms of his fair mistress, who, having awaited him with the utmost impatience, received him joyfully, saying, 'Gramercy to my lord the friar for that he so well taught thee the way hither!' Then, taking their pleasure one of the other, they solaced themselves together with great delight, devising and laughing amain anent the simplicity of the dolt of a friar and gibing at wool-hanks and teasels and carding-combs. Moreover, having taken order for their future converse, they did on such wise that, without having to resort anew to my lord the friar, they foregathered in equal joyance many another night, to the like whereof I pray God, of His holy mercy, speedily to conduct me and all Christian souls who have a mind thereto."

• From The Decameron (1353)

  Currado, hearing this, marvelled and held him great of soul and his love fervent and tendered him therefore the dearer; wherefore, rising to his feet, he embraced him and kissed him and without more delay bade privily bring Spina thither. Accordingly, the lady--who was grown lean and pale and weakly in prison and showed well nigh another than she was wont to be, as on like wise Giannotto another man--being come, the two lovers in Currado's presence with one consent contracted marriage according to our usance. Then, after some days, during which he had let furnish the newly-married pair with all that was necessary or agreeable to them, he deemed it time to gladden their mothers with the good news and accordingly calling his lady and Cavriuola, he said to the latter, 'What would you say, madam, an I should cause you have again your elder son as the husband of one of my daughters?' Whereto she answered, 'Of that I can say to you no otherwhat than that, could I be more beholden to you than I am, I should be so much the more so as you would have restored to me that which is dearer to me than mine own self; and restoring it to me on such wise as you say, you would in some measure re-awaken in me my lost hope.' With this, she held her peace, weeping, and Currado said to his lady, 'And thou, mistress, how wouldst thou take it, were I to present thee with such a son-in-law?' The lady replied, 'Even a common churl, so he pleased you, would please me, let alone one of these,[109] who are men of gentle birth.' 'Then,' said Currado, 'I hope, ere many days, to make you happy women in this.' [Footnote 109: _i.e._ Beritola's sons.]

• From The Decameron (1353)

  Then said Fra Alberto, 'Madam, you speak sagely and I will without fail take order with him of that which you tell me. But you may do me a great favour, which will cost you nothing; it is this, that you will him come with this my body. And I will tell you in what you will do me a favour; you must know that he will take my soul forth of my body and put it in Paradise, whilst he himself will enter into me; and what while he abideth with you, so long will my soul abide in Paradise.' 'With all my heart,' answered Dame Littlewit. 'I will well that you have this consolation, in requital of the buffets he gave you on my account.' Then said Fra Alberto, 'Look that he find the door of your house open to-night, so he may come in thereat, for that, coming in human form, as he will, he might not enter save by the door.' The lady replied that it should be done, whereupon the monk took his leave and she abode in such a transport of exultation that her breech touched not her shift and herseemed a thousand years till the angel Gabriel should come to her. Meanwhile, Fra Alberto, bethinking him that it behoved him play the cavalier, not the angel, that night proceeded to fortify himself with confections and other good things, so he might not lightly be unhorsed; then, getting leave, as soon as it was night, he repaired with one of his comrades to the house of a woman, a friend of his, whence he was used whiles to take his start what time he went to course the fillies; and thence, whenas it seemed to him time, having disguised himself, he betook him to the lady's house. There he tricked himself out as an angel with the trappings he had brought with him and going up, entered the chamber of the lady, who, seeing this creature all in white, fell on her knees before him. The angel blessed her and raising her to her feet, signed to her to go to bed, which she, studious to obey, promptly did, and the angel after lay down with his devotee. Now Fra Alberto was a personable man of his body and a lusty and excellent well set up on his legs; wherefore, finding himself in bed with Madam Lisetta, who was young and dainty, he showed himself another guess bedfellow than her husband and many a time that night took flight without wings, whereof she avowed herself exceeding content; and eke he told her many things of the glories of heaven. Then, the day drawing near, after taking order for his return, he made off with his trappings and returned to his comrade, whom the good woman of the house had meanwhile borne amicable company, lest he should get a fright, lying alone.

• From Sketch for a Theory of the Emotions (1939)

  He cannot keep still, makes innumerable plans, begins to do things which he immediately abandons etc. For in fact this joy has been called up by an apparition of the object of his desires. He has been told that he has won a considerable sum of money, or that he will shortly meet someone he loves and has not seen for a long time. But although the object is 'imminent' it is not yet there, it is not yet his . He is separated from it by a certain length of time. And even when it is present, even when the friend so long desired appears upon the station platform, he is still an object that delivers itself to one only little by little; the delight that we feel in seeing him again soon becomes blunted; we shall never get so far as to hold him there, in front of us, as our own absolute possession and to grasp him all at once as a whole (nor shall we ever realise all at once our new-won riches, as an instantaneous totality. It will yield itself to us only through numberless details and, as it were, by abschattungen ). Joy is magical behaviour which tries, by incantation, to realize the possession of the desired object as an instantaneous totality. This behaviour is accompanied by certainty that possession will be realized sooner or later, but it seeks to anticipate that possession. The various activities expressive of joy, as well as the muscular hypertonicity and the slight vascular dilatation, are animated and transcended by an intention which envisages the world through them. This seems easy, the object of our desires appears to be near and easy to posses. Every gesture expresses emphatic approbation. To dance, or to sing for joy — these represent the behaviour of symbolic approximation, of incantation. By their means the object — which in reality one may not be able to posses except by prudent and, after all, difficult behaviour — is possessed at once, symbolically. It is thus, for example, that a man to whom a woman has just said that she loves him may begin to dance and sing. In so doing he turns his mind away from the prudent and difficult behaviour he will have to maintain if he is to deserve this love and increase it, to gain possession of it through countless details (smiles, little attentions etc.), He turns away even from the woman herself as the living reality representative of all those delicate procedures. Those he will attend to later; he is now giving himself a rest. For the moment, he is possessing the object by magic; the dance mimes his possession of it. However, we cannot be quite content with these few observations. They have enabled us to appreciate the functional part played by emotion, but still we do not know very much about its nature.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  27 “When He established the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there; When He drew a circle upon the face of the deep, 28 When He made firm the skies above, When the fountains and springs of the deep became fixed and strong, 29 When He set for the sea its boundary So that the waters would not transgress [the boundaries set by] His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth— [Job 38:10 , 11 ; Ps 104:6–9 ; Jer 5:22 ] 30 Then I was beside Him, as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight; Rejoicing before Him always, [Matt 3:17 ; John 1:2 , 18 ] 31 Rejoicing in the world, His inhabited earth, And having my delight in the sons of men. [Ps 16:3 ] 32 “Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed [happy, prosperous, to be admired] are they who keep my ways. [Ps 119:1 , 2 ; 128:1 , 2 ; Luke 11:28 ] 33 “Heed (pay attention to) instruction and be wise, And do not ignore or neglect it. 34 “Blessed [happy, prosperous, to be admired] is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts. 35 “For whoever finds me (Wisdom) finds life And obtains favor and grace from the LORD . 36 “But he who fails to find me or sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love and court death.” Proverbs 9 Wisdom’s Invitation 1 W ISDOM HAS built her [spacious and sufficient] house; She has hewn out and set up her seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table. [Matt 22:2–4 ] 3 She has sent out her maidens, she calls From the highest places of the city: 4 “Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says, 5 “Come, eat my food And drink the wine I have mixed [and accept my gifts]. [Is 55:1 ; John 6:27 ] 6 “Leave [behind] your foolishness [and the foolish] and live, And walk in the way of insight and understanding.” 7 He who corrects and instructs a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man gets insults for himself. 8 a Do not correct a scoffer [who foolishly ridicules and takes no responsibility for his error] or he will hate you; Correct a wise man [who learns from his error], and he will love you. [Ps 141:5 ] 9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser; Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. 10 The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom [its starting point and its essence], And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  In earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He will make them honored [by the presence of the Messiah], by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness a Will see a great Light; Those who live in the dark land, The Light will shine on them. [Is 42:6 ; Matt 4:15 , 16 ] 3 You [O God] will increase the nation, You will multiply their joy; They will rejoice before You Like the joy and jubilation of the harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil [of victory]. 4 For You will break the yoke of Israel’s burden and the staff (goad) on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the b battle of Midian. [Judg 7:8–22 ] 5 For every boot of the marching warrior in the battle tumult, And [every soldier’s] garment rolled in blood, will be used for burning, fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; And the government shall be upon His shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [Is 25:1 ; 40:9–11 ; Matt 28:18 ; Luke 2:11 ] 7 There shall be no end to the increase of His government and of peace, [He shall rule] on the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From that time forward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. [Dan 2:44 ; 1 Cor 15:25–28 ; Heb 1:8 ] God’s Anger with Israel’s Arrogance 8 The Lord sends a word (message) against Jacob, And it falls on Israel [the ten northern tribes, the kingdom of Ephraim]. 9 And all the people know it, That is, c Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria [its capital], Who say in pride and arrogance of heart: 10 “The bricks have fallen down, But we will rebuild [all the better] with ashlar (hewed stones); The sycamores have been cut down, But we will replace them with [expensive] cedars.” 11 Therefore the LORD raises against Ephraim adversaries from Rezin [king of Aram] And spurs their enemies on, 12 The Arameans on the east and the Philistines on the west; And they devour Israel with gaping jaws. In spite of all this, God’s anger does not turn away But His hand is still stretched out [in judgment]. 13 Yet the people do not turn back [in repentance] to Him who struck them, Nor do they seek the LORD of hosts [as their most essential need]. 14 Therefore the LORD cuts off head and tail [the highest and the lowest] from Israel, Both [the high] palm branch and [the low] bulrush in one day.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  The phrase is related to the type of clothing worn in ancient times. Before any vigorous activity the loose ends of clothing (tunics, cloaks, mantles, etc.) had to be gathered up and tucked into the wide band worn around the midsection of the body. The band (usually about six inches wide) also served as a kind of pocket or pouch to carry personal items such as a dagger, money or other necessary things. Gird up your mind or gird up your heart are examples of variants of this phrase and call for mental or spiritual preparation for a coming challenge. c 6:15 A reference to the Roman soldiers’ shoes which were studded with hobnails to give them stability on the battlefield. d 6:16 Here the Greek word refers to the large Roman soldiers’ shield designed to protect the entire body. It had an iron frame and was covered in several layers of leather. When soaked in water before a battle the shield could put out the fiery missiles thrown at them by the enemy. e 6:18 Lit the saints . f 6:23 Lit brethren . The Letter of Paul to the Philippians Philippians 1 Thanksgiving 1 P AUL AND Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), T o all the saints (God’s people) in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God in every remembrance of you, 4 always offering every prayer of mine with joy [and with specific requests] for all of you, 5 [thanking God] for your participation and partnership [both your comforting fellowship and gracious contributions] in [advancing] the good news [regarding salvation] from the first day [you heard it] until now. 6 I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]. [Rom 14:10 ] 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you, because [you have me in your heart as] I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the good news [regarding salvation], all of you share in [His matchless] grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus [whose great love fills me].

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  [Is 40:10 ; Jer 17:10 ; Matt 16:27 ; 2 Cor 5:10 ] 13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End [the Eternal One].” [Is 44:6 ; 48:12 ; John 10:30 ] 14 e Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those who wash their robes [in the blood of Christ by believing and trusting in Him—the righteous who do His commandments], so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. [Gen 2:9 ; 3:22 , 24 ] 15 Outside are the dogs [the godless, the impure, those of low moral character] and the sorcerers [with their intoxicating drugs, and magic arts], and the immoral persons [the perverted, the molesters, and the adulterers], and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying (deception, cheating). The Final Invitation 16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you and to give you assurance of these things for the churches. I am the Root (the Source, the Life) and the Offspring of David, the radiant and bright Morning Star.” [Num 24:17 ; Is 11:1 , 10 ] 17 The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, believers) say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take and drink the water of life without cost. [Is 55:1 ] 18 I testify and warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book [its predictions, consolations, and admonitions]: if anyone adds [anything] to them, God will add to him the plagues (afflictions, calamities) which are written in this book; [Deut 4:2 ] 19 and if anyone takes away from or distorts the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away [from that one] his share from the tree of life and from the holy city (new Jerusalem), which are written in this book. 20 He who testifies and affirms these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus (the Christ, the Messiah) be with all [the saints—all believers, those set apart for God]. Amen. Revelation 1 a 1:1 The God-given disclosures contained in this book relate to both Christ and future events. b 1:3 This is the first of the seven promised blessings (beatitudes) of the Revelation . See also 14:13 ; 16:15 ; 19:9 ; 20:6 ; 22:7 , 14 . c 1:4 John and his brother James were among the first apostles chosen by Jesus, and were the sons of Zebedee and Salome. In addition to the Revelation, John wrote the Gospel and the three letters that bear his name. d 1:4 The Roman province of Asia (now western Turkey) was formed in 129 B .C .

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] “Do Not Destroy.” A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. 1 W e give thanks and praise to You, O God, we give thanks, For Your [wonderful works declare that Your] a name is near; People declare Your wonders. 2 “When I select an appointed time, I will judge with equity,” [says the LORD ]. 3 “The earth and all the inhabitants of it melt [in tumultuous times]. It is I who will steady its pillars. Selah. 4 “I said to the arrogant, ‘Do not boast;’ And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn [of self-glorification]. 5 ‘Do not lift up your [defiant and aggressive] horn on high, Do not speak with a stiff neck.’ ” 6 For not from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the desert comes exaltation. [Is 14:13 ] 7 But God is the Judge; He puts down one and lifts up another. 8 For a cup [of His wrath] is in the hand of the LORD , and the wine foams; It is well mixed and fully spiced, and He pours out from it; And all the wicked of the earth must drain it and drink down to its dregs. [Ps 60:3 ; Jer 25:15 ; Rev 14:9 , 10 ; 16:19 ] 9 But as for me, I will declare it and rejoice forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 All the horns of the wicked He will cut off, But the horns of the righteous will be lifted up. Psalm 76 The Victorious Power of the God of Jacob. To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. 1 G OD IS known in Judah; His name is great in Israel. 2 His tabernacle is in Salem (Jerusalem); His dwelling place is in Zion. 3 There He broke the flaming arrows, The shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah. 4 You are glorious and resplendent, More majestic than the mountains of prey. 5 The stouthearted have been stripped of their spoil, They have slept the sleep [of death]; And none of the warriors could use his hands. 6 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep [of death]. [Ex 15:1 , 21 ; Nah 2:13 ; Zech 12:4 ] 7 You, even You, are to be feared [with the submissive wonder of reverence]; Who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? 8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was quiet 9 When God arose to [establish] judgment, To save all the humble of the earth. Selah. 10 For the wrath of man shall praise You; With a remnant of wrath You will clothe and arm Yourself.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  16 For d by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him. 17 And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.] [Prov 8:22–31 ] 18 He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the e church; and He is the beginning, f the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything. [1 Cor 15:20 ] 19 For it pleased the Father for all the fullness [of deity—the sum total of His essence, all His perfection, powers, and attributes] to dwell [permanently] in Him (the Son), 20 and through [the intervention of] the Son to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace [with believers] through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say,] whether things on earth or things in heaven. 21 And although you were at one time estranged and alienated and hostile-minded [toward Him], participating in evil things, 22 yet Christ has now reconciled you [to God] in His g physical body through death, in order to present you before the Father holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 [and He will do this] if you continue in the faith, well-grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed h in all creation under heaven, and of which [gospel] I, Paul, was made a minister. 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I i supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church. 25 In this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship which God entrusted to me for your sake, so that I might make the word of God fully known [among you]— 26 that is, j the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people). 27 God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory. 28 We proclaim Him, warning and instructing everyone in all wisdom [that is, with comprehensive insight into the word and purposes of God], so that we may present every person complete in Christ [mature, fully trained, and perfect in Him—the Anointed]. 29 For this I labor [often to the point of exhaustion], striving with His power and energy, which so greatly works within me.

• From Lady Chatterley's Lover (1928)

  Yet it was spring, and the bluebells were coming in the wood, and the leaf-buds on the hazels were opening like the spatter of green rain. How terrible it was that it should be spring, and everything cold-hearted, cold-hearted. Only the hens, fluffed so wonderfully on the eggs, were warm with their hot, brooding female bodies! Connie felt herself living on the brink of fainting all the time. Then, one day, a lovely sunny day with great tufts of primroses under the hazels, and many violets dotting the paths, she came in the afternoon to the coops and there was one tiny, tiny perky chicken tinily prancing round in front of a coop, and the mother hen clucking in terror. The slim little chick was greyish-brown with dark markings, and it was the most alive little spark of a creature in seven kingdoms at that moment. Connie crouched to watch in a sort of ecstacy. Life, life! Pure, sparky, fearless new life! New life! So tiny and so utterly without fear! Even when it scampered a little scramblingly into the coop again, and disappeared under the hen's feathers in answer to the mother hen's wild alarm-cries, it was not really frightened, it took it as a game, the game of living. For in a moment a tiny sharp head was poking through the gold-brown feathers of the hen, and eyeing the Cosmos. Connie was fascinated. And at the same time, never had she felt so acutely the agony of her own female forlornness. It was becoming unbearable. She had only one desire now, to go to the clearing in the wood. The rest was a kind of painful dream. But sometimes she was kept all day at Wragby, by her duties as hostess. And then she felt as if she too were going blank, just blank and insane. One evening, guests or no guests, she escaped after tea. It was late, and she fled across the park like one who fears to be called back. The sun was setting rosy as she entered the wood, but she pressed on among the flowers. The light would last long overhead. She arrived at the clearing flushed and semi-conscious. The keeper was there, in his shirtsleeves, just closing up the coops for the night, so the little occupants would be safe. But still one little trio was pattering about on tiny feet, alert drab mites, under the straw shelter, refusing to be called in by the anxious mother. "I had to come and see the chickens!" she said, panting, glancing shyly at the keeper, almost unaware of him. "Are there any more?" "Thurty-six so far!" he said. "Not bad!" He too took a curious pleasure in watching the young things come out. Connie crouched in front of the last coop. The three chicks had run in. But still their cheeky heads came poking sharply through the yellow feathers, then withdrawing, then only one beady little head eyeing forth from the vast mother-body.

• From The Incendiaries (2018)

  But that night, I made nothing of it. The slope of Phoebe’s neck was hot, sweat-humid. If it happens, she started saying. With a kiss, I stalled the threat; I shut Phoebe’s mouth with mine. 14. JOHN LEAL Noxhurst, though, his group said. Of all the places he could have gone after Yanji, why had he returned here, to his old college town? But John Leal saw no need to indulge such questions. He’d had his troubles, it was true. The night he first left Noxhurst, he’d imagined he’d never return. I’ve since learned, he might have said, that nothing energizes like humiliation. It had rained his first day out of the gulag, the lines slanting like marionette strings. In each breath he inhaled, he’d heard the call of the dying Christ. But none of this merited saying. It would be weak to tell too much, to explain. It could mislead. The Lord eludes the whys. To insist is also a slight; give me, we plead, testing Him. In pursuit, we misprize. Lord, increase my bewilderment, they’d do well to ask. Instead, he told them he had been called back to Noxhurst, God wanting him here. Just as He wants all of you, he said, looking in turn at his disciples’ upturned faces. 15. PHOEBE Up at the Point, Phoebe said, Will and I lolled on full bellies. Toy-sized, a plane pitched along the horizon. It dipped then rolled, playful. I watched a coin of light slip down his chin. It was the fifth date in as many days; late the previous night, as we walked home, he’d asked if I liked picnics. If so, I’ll plan it, he said. He brought all the food. Stilton hunks, fat-pebbled pâté. Plum jam. The half-baguette. Ripe peaches. Mulled wine in a jug. I ate too much, past appetite. It would be months before Will admitted he was broke, and I couldn’t have known he’d paid for this banquet, with its pâté, the out-of-season fruit, using tips he couldn’t spare. Still, it was obvious he’d put in effort. The first night I met him, for instance, I’d talked about craving a good peach. To mull this wine, he’d stolen into the dining-hall kitchen. I tried to slice the fruit. The knife slipped, cutting my left hand. I winced. It was a small cut, but he insisted on tying a folded napkin around it. Here, he said. I let him have the paring knife. With his large, blunt-nailed hands, he sliced the peach. He didn’t ask how I lacked this basic skill. I held the first piece to his mouth, and he bit into it. White flesh dribbled juice. Before I could wipe off the liquid, he kissed my wrist clean. (I had no practice slicing fruit because my mother had always done it, bringing plates heaped with Fuji apples to the piano room: a fork, too, so that I could practice without dirtying my hands.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  17 The king cast them on the plain of the Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah. 18 Solomon made all these utensils in such great quantity that the weight of the bronze could not be determined. 19 Solomon also made all the articles that were in the house of God: the golden altar, and the tables for the bread of the Presence (showbread), 20 and the lampstands with their lamps of pure gold, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary (the Holy of Holies) as directed; 21 the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs of gold, of purest gold; 22 and the snuffers, the basins, the dishes [for incense], and the firepans, of pure gold; and for the entrance of the house (temple), the inner doors for the Holy of Holies and the doors of the Holy Place (main room), were of gold. 2 Chronicles 5 The Ark Is Brought into the Temple 1 T HUS ALL the work that Solomon did for the house of the LORD was finished. He brought in the things that his father David had dedicated, and he put the silver and the gold and all the utensils in the treasuries of the house of God. 2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the Israelites, in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD up from the City of David, which is Zion. 3 All the men of Israel gathered before the king at the feast in the seventh month. 4 And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. 5 The Levitical priests brought up the ark, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy utensils that were in the Tent. 6 And King Solomon and all the assembly of Israel who gathered together with him before the ark were sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 7 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, to the inner sanctuary of the house, into the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubim; 8 for the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, making a covering above the ark and its carrying poles. 9 The poles were so long that the ends of the poles of the ark were visible from the front of the Holy of Holies (inner sanctuary), but were not visible from the outside. They are there to this day. 10 There was nothing in the ark except a the two tablets [of the Ten Commandments] which Moses put there at Mount Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites, when they came out of Egypt.

• From Sketch for a Theory of the Emotions (1939)

  However, we cannot be quite content with these few observations. They have enabled us to appreciate the functional part played by emotion, but still we do not know very much about its nature. We must note first of all that the few examples we have cited are far from having exhausted all the varieties of emotion. Many other fears are possible, many other kinds of sadness, We are only affirming that they are all reducible to the constitution of a magic world, by making use of our bodies as instruments of incantation. In every case the problem is different, and the behaviour is different. To grasp the signification and aim, one would have to know and analyse each particular situation. Broadly speaking, there are not four principal types of emotion: there are many more, and it would be a useful and productive work to classify them. For example, if the fear of a timid person changes suddenly into anger (change of conduct motivated by a change in the situation), this anger is not of the ordinary type: it is fear surpassed. This does not mean at all that it is in some way reducible to fear, but simply that it retains the antecedent fear included in its own structure. But it is only when one is persuaded of the functional character of emotion that one can arrive at an understanding of the infinite variety of states of emotional consciousness. On the other hand, we ought never to lose sight of one capital fact: that behaviour pure and simple is not emotion, any more than is the pure and simple awareness of that behaviour. If it were so, indeed, the finalist character of emotion would be far more clearly apparent and, on the other hand, consciousness could easily free itself from emotion. Moreover, there are spurious emotions which are nothing more than behaviour. If someone gives me a present in which I am only half interested, I may make an outward show of intense delight; I may clap my hands, jump or dance. This however is only play-acting. I let myself be a little carried away by it, and it would be inaccurate to say that I am not joyful; nevertheless, my delight is not genuine, I shall throw it off as soon as my visitor has gone. This is precisely what we call false joy, bearing in mind that falsity is not a logical characteristic of certain propositions but an existential quality. In the same sense I can have false fears, false sorrows, Such false states of mind are however quite distinct from those of the actor: an actor imitates joy, sorrow etc., without being joyful or sorrowful, for his behaviour is addressed to a fictional world. He imitates behaviour but is not himself behaving. In the various cases of false emotion that I have just mentioned, the behaviour is not sustained by anything, it exists alone and is voluntary: but the situation is real and is thought to require such behaviour. Moreover, through such behaviour we magically 'will' certain qualities upon real objects: but those qualities are false.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  [James 1:19 , 20 ] 10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. 11 Wisdom along with an inheritance is good And an [excellent] advantage for those who see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a protection even as money is a protection, But the [excellent] advantage of knowledge is that wisdom shields and preserves the lives of its possessors. 13 Consider the work of God: Who can make straight what He has bent? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider that God has made the one as well as the other, So that man will not find out anything that will be after him. 15 I have seen everything during my [fleeting] days of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in [spite of] his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who a lives a long life in [spite of] his wickedness. 16 Do not be excessively righteous [like those given to self-conceit], and do not be overly wise (pretentious)—why should you bring yourself to ruin? 17 Do not be excessively or willfully wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you take hold of one thing (righteousness) and also not let go of the other (wisdom); for the one who fears and worships God [with awe-filled reverence] will come forth with both of them. 19 Wisdom strengthens the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. [Ps 127:1 ; 2 Tim 3:15 ] 20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who always does good and who never sins. [Is 53:6 ; Rom 3:23 ] 21 Also, do not take seriously everything that is said, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you, 22 for you also know that you too have cursed others many times. 23 I have tested all this with wisdom. I said, “I will be wise [independently of God],” but true wisdom was far from me. 24 Whatever has been is far off, deeply remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it [for it is beyond the grasp of man]? [Job 28:12–28 ; 1 Cor 2:9–16 ] 25 I turned around and directed my heart to know, to investigate and to seek [skillful and godly] wisdom and the reason for things, and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness [leading to stupidity and recklessness]. 26 And I discovered that [of all irrational sins none has been so destructive in beguiling one away from God as immoral women for] more bitter than death is the woman whose heart is [composed of] snares and nets, and whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God will escape from her, but the sinner will be taken captive by her [evil].

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  17 He confirmed it as a statute to Jacob, And to Israel as an everlasting covenant, [Gen 35:11 , 12 ] 18 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, As the portion of your possession and inheritance.” 19 When you were few in number, Even a very few, and strangers in it, 20 When they wandered from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people, 21 He allowed no man to oppress or exploit them, And, He reproved and punished kings for their sakes, saying , [Gen 12:17 ; 20:3 ; Ex 7:15–18 ] 22 “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.” [Gen 20:7 ] 23 Sing to the LORD , all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 24 Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all peoples. 25 For great is the LORD , and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared [with awe-filled reverence] above all gods. 26 For all the gods of the peoples are [lifeless] idols, But the LORD made the heavens. 27 Splendor and majesty are [found] in His presence; Strength and joy are [found] in His place (sanctuary). 28 Ascribe to the LORD , O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the LORD glory and honor and strength. 29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory and honor due His name; Bring an offering [of thanksgiving], and come before Him; Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. 30 Tremble [reverently] before Him, all the earth; The world is firmly established, it will not be moved. 31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” 32 Let the sea roar, and all the things that fill it; Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it. 33 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD ; For He comes to judge and govern the earth. 34 O give thanks to the LORD , for He is good; For His lovingkindness endures forever. 35 Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation; Gather us together and rescue us from the nations, That we may give thanks to Your holy name, And glory in Your praise.” 36 Blessed be the LORD , the God of Israel, Forever and ever. And all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD . Worship before the Ark 37 So David left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark continually, as each day’s work required; 38 and Obed-edom with his sixty-eight relatives; also Obed-edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.

• From The Incendiaries (2018)

  I was in the main quadrangle. Spires and belfries spun up from stone citadels. Frisbees soared. Bronze statues gazed forward, frozen in heroes’ poses. Sunlit paths crossed the green, lines in a giant palm, holding students who lazed on the grass. It was a lost garden, but I’d been allowed in. I still hadn’t known, though I soon would, how little I’d belong. I approached the dining hall. I’d been up since six, while she was in bed, idling. Lions in a cage. Had she petted them, and did she wake to find the tawny fur glinting on her skin? She might have rubbed the fur around as she slept. The coarse hairs strewn in Phoebe’s sheets, bijou rays of gold. But my step felt light. If I could be anyone, I’d ask to be the Will rushing to see more, again, of Phoebe. In the distance, an advertisement painted on the side of a brick building showed a young girl, lips pursed as if to send a wish. The suck and howl of a siren pierced the cold, and the fall wind smelled of reasons to live. 5. JOHN LEAL Three months into his captivity, John Leal was shoved in the back of a truck, driven from the gulag to the frozen riverbank, and told to cross to China. He hesitated; a guard raised his gun, hit him with its butt. Bleeding from his temple, John Leal started walking. It was early March. Thin lines fissured the river’s ice. Each spring, the thawed waters were said to clog with all those shot while trying to escape, the bodies preserved, like fish, where they’d been killed. Behind him, a guard laughed. If they didn’t shoot him, they’d watch him plunge through ice, and drown. He tried the next step. Spindrift lifted, fell. Inhale. Exhale. His nerves stretched, a net to span the width of ice dividing him from the rest of his life. Filaments glittered, straining with his weight. China stood prismatic on the opposite side. He let out a long breath. His soul was blowing loose, but he inhaled. He pulled it back in. There was no being afraid. He walked on water with each step. The ice cracked; he held still. Try to live. Take a step again. 6. PHOEBE In Phoebe’s next confession to Jejah, she might have said: If you love to win, as I did, it’s not enough to do well. Others also have to fail. In the past, I’d collected trophies, boxes full, but not like this. With Libich, I swept the top prizes. I left judges in tears. Rival pianists knew who I was, and I had the blood taste of public triumph on my lips. Each time, I wanted more, again. I thought I’d willed it into being, at last, the life I expected. I’d prove what I could do. Then, six months after I first played Libich for him, the teacher gave me a gift recording, a Libich revival.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  [Acts 2:1–4 ] 16 “Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 “So, if God gave Gentiles the same gift [equally] as He gave us after we accepted and believed and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ [as Savior], who was I to interfere or stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified and praised God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance that leads to eternal life [that is, real life after earthly death].” The Church at Antioch 19 So then [since they were unaware of these developments] those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with [the stoning of] Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, without telling the message [of salvation through Christ] to anyone except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming [to them] the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand (the power and presence) of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord [for salvation, accepting and drawing near to Jesus as Messiah and Savior]. 22 The news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God [that was bestowed on them], he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with an unwavering heart to stay true and devoted to the Lord. 24 For Barnabas was a good man [privately and publicly—his godly character benefited both himself and others] and he was full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith [in Jesus the Messiah, through whom believers have everlasting life]. And a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 And Barnabas left for Tarsus to search for Saul; 26 and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For an entire year they met [with others] in the church and instructed large numbers; and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. [Acts 26:28 ; 1 Pet 4:16 ] 27 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and prophesied through the [Holy] Spirit that a severe famine would come on the a entire world. And this did happen during the reign of b Claudius. 29 So the disciples decided to send a contribution, each according to his individual ability, to the believers who lived in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending the contribution to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.