Round the perimeter from 5 runs a quotation (3,3,7,3,4,6,4,3,5,2,3,5) followed by the book of the Bible (AV) from which it comes. Two answers give chapter and verse. Clues containing animals or reptiles include a definition (one or two words) and a jumble of the answer. Remaining clues are normal.
Across
9 Shakespearean character, determined and sincere about. . . (7)
10. . . another, eager to incite (7)
11 Booby trap injured rifleman crossing North American ravine (8,7)
12 Mute applause simple cattalo accepts (5)
13 Inept fawn has thick mother (3)
15 Brain implant dense tiger needs (5)
16 Big noise, father of James and John? (7)
18 Symptoms of cold one caught in Asian country (7)
20 Quotidian gorilla lacks brain perhaps (5)
22 Stupid tapir with small amount of sense (3)
23 Saw male end carrying the cross (5)
24 Evangelical concealing costly cutlass? (7)
26 Hefty sinner unwise dromedary carries (7)
Down
2 Indigent criminal undefiled DI released (7)
3 Under tree astuter adder isn’t soaked (9)
4 Russian lass crass hart hurt (5)
5 Prophet displaying human failing (5)
6 Expecting hitch breaking down in desert (4,5)
7 Jesuit poet dances, family joins in (7)
13 Modest Friesian not foremost in intellect (5)
14 Ordinal with name of acting dame (5)
17 ‘An _______ witness scorneth judgment’ (Prov. 19:28, AV) (7)
19 One who directs eight to tease vain man (7)
21 Deep lake zany ass jumped into (5)
23 African arts graduate spoke endlessly (5)
25 Mediocre bird once outshone so-so marmoset (3)
26 Dim mongoose came across daft meerkat (3)
Christmas books supplement crossword solution