**1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.**

4 If thou hast seen faith in his word, thou shalt bear record of it; and there is no one able to add to it of his deeds that hath not spoken of it to his brethren.

5 And if thou seest a man walking in wisdom, he is foolish, but a fool is the fool: he has said a terrible thing.

6 These then are the words of God, saying,

"The word of the Lord is like unto a needle in the hand of man: a man layeth it down, and pryteth a needle into his sleeve. Then cometh the needle to his work: but behold, it beareth a stone; and a man cast down the stone, and broke through the stone. Then said he, What will come upon me if I go no deeper in my seeking?"

7 Then said the Lord