Sorry, I don’t know the answer to this one. Let me know if you do!  (Now I wonder if Google knows), but play fair, without Google. I still don’t know. I’ll wait 4 weeks (9-11-17) before giving the agreed-upon answer from you. P.S. It’s okay to use the Bible.

God made Adam out of the dust,

But thought it best to make me first.

So I was made before the man,

according to God’s Holy plan.

My whole body God made complete,

without arms, or hands or feet.

My ways and acts did God control,

but in my body He placed no soul.

A living being I became,

and Adam gave to me a name.

Then from his presence I withdrew,

for this man Adam I never knew.

All my Master’s laws I do obey,

and from these laws I never sray.

Thousands of me go in fear,

but seldom on the earth appear.

Later, for a purpose God did see,

He placed a living soul in me.

But that soul f mne God had to claim,

and from me took it back again.

But when from me this soul had fled,

I was the same as when first made.

Without arms, legs, feet, or soul,

I  travel on from pole to pole.

My labors are from day to night,

and to men I once furnished light.

Thousands of people, both yung and old

did by my death bright lihts behold.

No right or wrong can I conceive;

the Bible and its teachings I can’t believe.

The fear of death doesn’t trouble me;

pure happiness I will never see.

And up in Heaven I can never go,

nor in the grave nor hell below.

So get your Bible and read with care;

you’ll find my name recorded there.

______________________

This puzzle was written by a lady in California in 1890 in response to a gentleman in Philadelphia, who said that he would pay $1,000 to anyone who could write a puzzle that he could not solve.  He failed to do so, and paid the lady $1,000…

The answer is one word, five letters long,  and appears only four times in the King James version of the Bible.  An 8-year old boy figured out the puzzle. Can you? Good hunting.

I never came up with the answer. A friend I showed it to immediately said “whale,” which was correct.  For the answer, I wrote my niece who had originally sent it to me about 10 years ago, without the answer but saying she knew what it was…..My how time flies!  So no one in blogland gets the $10,000 prize. Better luck next time!

     : > )