The excellencies of wisdom: 25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. PROVERBS. 27 Her house is the way to hell, going D% OTH not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? 2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. 3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors: 4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. Its discipline and doctrine. 25 Before the mountains were settled, earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of 50 ye simple, understand wisdom: and ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. 6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7 For my mouth shall speak truth: and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. ye children: for blessed are they that keep 32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O 8 All the words of my mouth are in my ways. righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find know-watching daily at my gates, waiting at the 34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, ledge. posts of my doors. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. ́17 I love them that love me: and those that seek me early shall find me. 18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I 28 When he established the clouds that the waters should not pass his com- up with him: and I was daily his delight, his earth; and my delights were with the 36 But he that sinneth against me 11 For wisdom is better than rubies; wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate and all the things that may be desired are me love death. not to to it. 12 I Wisdom dwell with prudence, and Wath hewn out her seven pillars: CHAP. IX. she find out knowledge of witty inventions. 13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil : pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. mingled her wine; she hath also furnished 3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she 4 Whoso is simple, let him_turn__in the wine which I have mingled. in the way of understanding. 20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. himself shame: and he that rebuketh a thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, 10 The fear of the LORD is the begin 22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. ning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the 23 I was set up from everlasting, from holy is understanding. the beginning, or ever the earth was. 11 For by me thy days shall be multi 24 When there were no depths, I was plied, and the years of thy life shall be in brought forth; when there were no foun- creased. tains abounding with water. 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise CHAP. X, XI. Of sundry moral virtues, and their contrary vices. for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone eth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips shalt bear it. is wise. 13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 Forshe sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. CHAP. X. THE proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. 2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. 3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. 4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. 5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. 6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the just is blessed : but the name of the wicked shall rot. 20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. 22 The blessing of the Lo it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. 23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom. 24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. 26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. 27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked 8 The wise in heart will receive com-speaketh frowardness. mandments: but a prating fool shall fall. 9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. : 10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow : : but a prating fool shall fall. a 11 The mouth of a righteous man is well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. CHAP. XI. FALSE balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. 2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. 5 The righteousness of the perfect shall 13 In the lips of him that hath under-direct his way but the wicked shall fall standing wisdom is found: but a rod is for by his own wickedness. the back of him that is void of understand- 6 The righteousness of the upright shall ing. deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. 15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. 7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 16 The labour of the righteous tende to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trou ble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. 9 A hypocrite with his mouth destroy 17 He is in the way of life that keepeth eth his neighbour: but through knowledge instruction: but he that refuseth reproof shall the just be delivered. erreth. 18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. 19 In the multitude of words there want 10 When it goeth well with the righteous the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. 11 By the blessing of the upright the Of sundry moral virtues, PROVERBS. and their contrary vices. city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will mouth of the wicked. the condemn. 12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. 13 A tale-bearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. 14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. 15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. 16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. 17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. 18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. 19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so The that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. 10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. 20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. 11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. 21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. 12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit. 22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, 13 The wicked is snared by the transso is a fair woman which is without discre-gression of his lips: but the just shall tion. come out of trouble. 23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. 3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. 4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. 24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. 26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. 5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. 6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. 7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand. 8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. 9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. 14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. 16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame. 17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit. 18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. 27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. 19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. 20 Deceit is in the heart of them that 28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. 29 He that troubleth his own house shall imagine evil: but to the counsellors of inherit the wind: and the fool shall be ser- peace is joy. vant to the wise of heart. 21 There shall no evil happen to the 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree just but the wicked shall be filled with of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. 31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner. : mischief. 22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. CHAP. XII. W Howledge but he that hateth foolishness. 23 A prudent man concealeth knowHOSO loveth instruction loveth ledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth reproof is brutish. 24 The hand of the diligent shall bear 2 A good man obtaineth favour of the rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. Of sundry moral virtues, CHAP. XIII, XIV. and their contrary vices. 25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh 21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. righteous, good shall be repaid. 26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. 22 A good man leaveth an inheritance \ to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. 27 The slothful man roasteth not that 23 Much food is in the tillage of the which he took in hunting: but the sub-poor: but there is that is destroyed for stance of a diligent man is precious. want of judgment. 28 In the way of righteousness is life; 24 He that spareth his rod hateth his and in the pathway thereof there is no son: but he that loveth him chasteneth death. him betimes. CHAP. XIII. 25 The righteous eateth to the satisfyWISE son heareth his father's in-ing of his soul: but the belly of the wicked struction but a scorner heareth not shall want. A rebuke. 2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. 3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. 4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. : 5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. 6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness over-false witness will utter lies. throweth the sinner. 11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. 6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and find7 There is that maketh himself rich, eth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him yet hath nothing: there is that maketh that understandeth. himself poor, yet hath great riches. 8 The ransom of a man's life are his riches but the poor heareth not rebuke. 9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. 10 Only by pride cometh contention but with the well-advised is wisdom. : 12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. 13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. 14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. CHAP. XIV. VERY wise woman buildeth her house but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. Ε' 2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways. despiseth him. 3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. 15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. 16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. 17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. 18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. 19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. 4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. 5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a 20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. 7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit. 9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour. 10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. 11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. 12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. 14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. 16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. 17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolish. ly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. 18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19 The evil bow before the good; and Of sundry moral virtues, PROVERBS. and their contrary vices. the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomi20 The poor is hated even of his own nation unto the LORD; but he loveth him neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. that followeth after righteousness. 21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. 10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die. 22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. 11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? 23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. 24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly. 25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. 26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence and his children shall have a place of refuge. 15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. but he that is of a merry heart hath a con28 In the multitude of people is the tinual feast. king's honour but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince. 16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure and trouble therewith. 29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. 30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. 18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but 31 He that oppresseth the poor reproach-he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. eth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. 19 The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. 32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death. 20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother. 33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. 21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. 34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. 22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. 35 The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame. 23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! 24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. CHAP. XV. A stir up anger. SOFT answer turneth away wrath: 2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. 3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. but spirit. 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: perverseness therein is a breach in the 5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. 6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. 7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so. 12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise. 13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. 25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. 26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. 27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. 28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. 29 The LORD is far from the wicked but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. 30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat. 31 The ear that heareth the reproof of 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD but the prayer life abideth among the wise. of the upright is his delight. 32 He that refuseth instruction de 500 |
