26¶ He maketh the understanding to abound like Euphrates, and as Jordan in the time of the harvest. the love of neighbours, a man and a wife that agree together. 2 Three forts of men my 27 He maketh the doc-foul hateth, and I am greattrine of knowledge appear as the light, and as Geon in the time of vintage. 28 The first man knew her not perfectly: no more fhall the last find her out. 29 For her thoughts are more than the fea, and her counfels profounder than the great deep. 30 I alfo came out as a brook from a river, and as a conduit into a garden. 31 I faid, I will water my beft garden, and will water abundantly my garden-bed: and lo, my brook became a river, and my river became a fea. 32 I will yet make doctrine to fhine as the morning, and will fend forth her light afar off. 33 I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and leave it to all ages for ever. 34 Behold, that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all them that feek wifdom. CHAP. XXV. 'N three things I was beauNihed, and food up beau tiful, both before God and men: the unity of brethren, ly offended at their life: a poor man that is proud, a rich man that is a liar, and an old adulterer that doteth. 3 If thou haft gathered nothing in thy youth, how canft thou find any thing in thine age? 4 Oh, how comely a thing is judgment for grey hairs, and for ancient men to know counsel! 5 Oh, how comely is the wifdom of old men, and underftanding and counfel to men of honour! 6 Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory. 7 There be nine things which I have judged in mine heart to be happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: A man that hath joy of his children, and he that liveth to see the fall of his enemy. 8 Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of understanding, and that hath not flipped with his tongue, and that hath not ferved a man more unworthy than himself: 9 Well is him that hath found prudence, and he that speaketh speaketh in the ears of them | bitterly. that will hear : 10 Oh, how great is he that findeth wifdom! yet is there none above him that feareth the Lord. II But the love of the Lord paffeth all things for illumination; he that holdeth it, whereto fhall he be likened? 12 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith is the beginning of cleaving unto him. 13 [Give me ] any plague, but the plague of the heart and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a wo man: 19 All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman: let the portion of a finner fall upon her. 20 As the climbing of a fandy way is to the feet of the aged, fo is a wife full of words to a quiet man. 21 Stumble not at the beauty of a woman, and defire her not for pleasure. 22 A woman, if she maintain her husband, is full of anger, impudence, and much reproach. 23 A wicked woman abateth the courage, maketh a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart: a woman that will not comfort her husband in diftrefs, mak 14 And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate me and any revenge, eth weak hands and feeble but the revenge of ene-knees. mies. 15 There is no head above the head of a ferpent; and there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy. 16 I had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon, than to keep house with a wicked woman. 24 Of the woman came the beginning of fin, and through her we all die. 25 Give the water paffage: neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad. no 26 If the go not as thou wouldeft have her, cut her off from thy flefh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let go. 17 The wickednefs of a woman changeth her face, and darkeneth her counte-her nance like fackcloth. 18 Her husband fhall fit among his neighbours; and when he heareth it, fhall figh 8 CHAP. XXVI. LESSED is the man that hath a virtuous BL wife, for the number of his | lids. days fhall be double. 2 A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and he fhall fulfil the years of his life in peace. 10 If thy daughter be fhameless, keep her in ftraitly, left the abuse herself through over-much liberty. II Watch over an impu3 A good wife is a good dent eye: and marvel, not if portion, which fhall be giv-fhe trefpafs against thee. en in the portion of them that fear the Lord. 4 Whether a man be rich or poor, if he have a good heart toward the Lord, he fhall at times rejoice with a cheerful countenance. 5 There be three things that mine heart feareth; and for the fourth I was fore afraid: the flander of a city, the gathering together of an unruly multitude, and a falfe accusation : all these are worse than death. 6 But a grief of heart and forrow is a woman that is jealous over another woman, and a fcourge of the tongue which communicateth with all. 7 An evil wife is a yoke fhaken to and fro: he that hath hold of her, is as though he held a scorpion. 8 A drunken woman, and a gadder abroad, caufeth great anger, and she will not cover her own fhame. 13 The grace of a wife delighteth her husband, and her discretion will fatten his bones. 14 A filent and loving woman is a gift of the Lord: and there is nothing fo much worth as a mind well inftructed. 15 A fhame-faced and faithful womán is a double grace, and her continent mind cannot be valued. 16 As the fun when it arifeth in the high heavens; fo is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house. 17 As the clear light is upon the holy candlestick; fo is the beauty of the face in ripe age. 18 As the golden pillars are upon the fockets of filver; fo are the fair feet with a conftant heart. 19 My fon, keep the flower of thine age found; and give not thy ftrength to ftran gers. 9 The whoredom of a woman may be known inten 20 When thou haft gota fruitful poffeffion her haughty looks, and eye-through all the field, fow it N n with with thine own feed, truft- | ftanding that are not set by: ing in the goodnefs of thy ftock. 21 So thy race which thou leaveft fhall be magnified, having the confidence of their good defcent. 22 An harlot shall be accounted as fpittle; but a married woman is a tower against death to her hufband. 23 A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man; but a godly woman is given to him that feareth the Lord. 24 A difhoneft woman contemneth fhame; but an honeft woman will reverence her husband. 25 A fhameless woman fhall be counted as a dog: but fhe that is fhame-faced will fear the Lord. 26 A woman that honoureth her husband, fhall be judged wife of all; but fhe that dishonoureth him in her pride, fhall be counted ungodly of all. and one that returneth from righteousness to fin, to fin, the Lord prepareth fuch an one for the fword. 29 A merchant shall hardly keep himself from doing wrong; and an huckster shall not be freed from fin. CHAP. XXVII. 5 The furnace proveth the potter's veffels; fo the 27 A loud-crying wo-trial of man is in his reasonman and a fcold fhall be ing. fought out to drive away the enemies. 28 There be two things that grieve my heart; and the third maketh me angry: a man of war that fuffereth poverty, and men of under 6 The fruit declareth if the tree have been dreffed; fo is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man. 7 Praise no man before thou heareft him speak; for this is the trial of men. 8 If thou followeft righteousness, thou fhalt obtain her, and put her on, as a glorious long robe. ftroyed his enemy; fo haft thou loft the love of thy neighbour. 19 As one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so haft thou let thy neighbour 9 The birds will refort unto their like; fo will truth return unto them that prac-go, and shall not get him atife in her. gain. 20 Follow after him no more, for he is too far off, he is as a roe escaped out of the fnare. 21 As for a wound, it may be bound up; and after reviling there may be reconcilement: but he that bewrayeth fecrets, is without hope. 22 He that winketh with the eyes, worketh evil, and he that knoweth him, will depart from him. 23 When thou art prefent, he will speak fweetly, and will admire thy words: but at the last he will writhe his mouth and flander thy fayings. 24 I have hated many things, but nothing like him, for the Lord will hate him. 25¶ Whofo cafteth a ftone on high, cafteth it on his own head; and a deceitful ftroke fhall make wounds. 26 Whofo diggeth a pit, shall fall therein; and he that fetteth a trap, fhall be taken therein. 27 He that worketh mifchief, it fhall fall upon him, Nn 2 and |