f

Of sundry moral virtues,

PROVERBS.

and their contrary vices.

me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? art righteous; him shall the people curse, I will seek it yet again. nations shall abhor him : CHAP. XXIV.

25 But to them that rebuke him shall

BE not thou envious against evil men, be delight, and a good blessing shall come

neither desire to be

them:

upon

2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

3 Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established:

27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.

4 And by knowledge shall the chambers

be filled with all precious and pleasant 28 Be not a witness against thy neighriches. bour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

31 And lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. 10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

!

I

32 Then I saw, and considered it well: looked upon it, and received instruction. 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

34 So shall thy poverty come as one that 12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. not; doth not he that pondereth the heart CHAP. XXV. consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul,ich the men of Hezekiah king of THESE also of

doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works? 13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honey-comb, which is sweet to thy taste:

14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom 3 The heaven for height, and the earth be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, for depth, and the heart of kings is unthen there shall be a reward, and thy ex-searchable. pectation shall not be cut off.

4 Take away the dross from the silver, 15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against and there shall come forth a vessel for the the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting-place:

finer.

5 Take away the wicked from before 16 For a just man falleth seven times, the king, and his throne shall be establishand riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

ed in righteousness.

6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath putthee to shame.

9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12 As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth:

18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. 19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? 23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou

Judah copied out.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings to search out a matter.

Observations about fools.

CHAP. XXVI, XXVII. Of sluggards and busybodies.

13 As the cold of snow in the time of drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them, fools. that send him: for he refresheth the soul 10 The great God that ormed all things of his masters. both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth

14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift transgressors. is like clouds and wind without rain.

15 By long forbearing is a prince per- fool returneth to his folly. suaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

12 Seest thou a man wise in his own

16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much conceit? there is more hope of a fool than as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled of him. therewith, and vomit it.

13 The slothful man saith, There is a 17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neigh-lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. bour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and 14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so hate thee. so doth the slothful upon his bed.

15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a

18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre: so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart. 21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink :

22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. 23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting the strife ceaseth.

25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a

tongue.

21 As coals are to burning coals, and

24 It is better to dwell in a corner of wood to fire; so is a contentious man to the house-top, than with a brawling wo-kindle strife. man and in a wide house.

CHAP. XXVI.

AS snow in summer, and as rain in har

vest; so honour is not seemly for a fool. 2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

Answer not a fool according to his

reason.

17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? 20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no tale-bearer,

7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. 9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of

a

22 The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. 24 He that hateth, dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, bring forth.

lest he be wise in his own conceit.

CHAP. XXVII.

of for

BOAST not est not what a day may

2 Let another man praise thee, and not

6 He that sendeth a message by the hand thine own mouth; a stranger, and not of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

thine own lips.

3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Of care to avoid offences.

PROVERBS.

Observations on impiety.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; understanding and knowledge the state but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. thereof shall be prolonged.

7 The full soul loatheth a honey-comb; 3 A poor man that oppresseth the poor but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

sweet.

8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law coutend with them.

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the

5 Evil men understand not judgment: heart so doth the sweetness of a man's but they that seek the LORD understand all friend by hearty counsel.

:

10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near, than

a brother far off.

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and bideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for strange woman.

a

a

14 He that blesseth his friend with loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. 16 Whosoever hideth her, hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand which bewrayeth itself.

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

21 As the fining-pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds:

24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

27 And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and the maintenance for thy maidens. CHAP. XXVIII.

THE

sueth: but the righteous are bold as

a

things.

6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

11 The rich mar is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

14 Happy is the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

eye, and not that poverty shall come upon him. 23 He that rebuketh a man, afterwards

a lion.

2 For the transgression of a land many shall find more favour than he that flatter. are the princes thereof: but by a man of, eth with the tongue.

Of public government..

CHAP. XXIX, XXX. Agur's confession and prayer. 24 Whoso robbeth his father or his 19 A servant will not be corrected by mother, and saith, It is no transgression; words: for though he understand he will the same is the companion of a destroyer. not answer.

25 He that is of a proud beart stirreth 20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his up strife: but he that putteth his trust in words? there is more hope of a fool than the LORD shall be made fat. of him.

26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

CHAP. XXIX.

E that, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

НЕ

2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just; and he that is upright in the

4 The king by judgment establisheth way is abomination to the wicked. the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

CHAP. XXX.

5 A man that flattereth his neighbour

THE words of Agur the son of Jakeh,

spreadeth a net for his feet.

8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is

no rest.

10 The blood-thirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are w cked.

13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.

14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for

ever.

21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.

17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. 18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

a

22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and furious man aboundeth in transgression. 23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

24 Whoso is partner with a thief,hateth his own soul: he, heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

26 Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a

13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation, whose teeth

PROVERBS. Properties of a virtuous woman.

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that be

Parents to be respected.

are as swords, and their jaw-teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

15 The horse-leech hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three of heavy hearts. things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know

not:

19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a inan with a maid.

20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

21 ¶ For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: 22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

23 For an odious woman when she is married; and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding

wise:

25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

30 A lion, which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

31 A greyhound; a he-goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thy hand upon thy mouth.

33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. 10 ¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

is

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

CHAP. XXXI.

THE

28 Her child arise up, and call her HE words of king Lemuel, the pro-blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth phecy that his mother taught him.

her.

2 What, my son? and what, the son of 29 Many daughters have done virtuousmy womb? and what, the son of my vows? ly, but thou excellest them all.

3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.