Salomon recommends wisdom: PROVERBS. He exhorts to chastity. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: 9 Lest thou give thine honour unto she shall bring thee to honour, when thou others, and thy years unto the cruel : dost embrace her. 10 Lest strangers be filled with thy 9 She shall give to thy head an orna-wealth; and thy labours be in the house of ment of grace: a crown of glory shall she a stranger; deliver to thee. 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. 11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, 12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; 13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me! 14 I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly. 15¶Drink waters out of thine own 13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. cistern, and running waters out of thine 14 Enter not into the path of the wick-own well. ed, and go not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. 18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. 20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ra19 The way of the wicked is as dark-vished with a strange woman, and embrace ness: they know not at what they stumble. the bosom of a stranger? 20 T My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eye-lids look straight before thee. 26 Fonder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. CHAP. V. Y son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: 2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. 3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honey-comb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: 4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. 6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. 7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. 8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. 22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. 23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. MY a CHAP. VI. Y son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with stranger, 2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. 3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. 4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the band of the fowler. 6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: The mischiefs of whoredom. CHAP. VII. Description of a harlot. 11 So shall thy poverty come as one therefore he will not spare in the day of that travelleth, and thy want as an armed vengeance. man. 12 TA naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. 13 He winketh with his eyes, he speak 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts. CHAP. VII. eth with his feet, he teacheth with his MY son, keep my words, and lay up fingers: 14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. 15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. 16 These six things doth the LORD hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and him that soweth discord among brethren. 20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 Bind them continually upon thy heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: 24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 25 Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. 26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. 27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. 30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31 But if he be found, he shall restore seven-fold; he shall give all the substance of his house. 32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman, lacketh understanding: he that doeth it,destroyeth his own soul. 33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thy heart. 4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: 5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. 6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, I 7 And beheld among the simple ones, discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 10 And behold, there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot, and subtile of heart. 11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, 14 I have peace-offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows. 15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. 16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. 19 For the good-man is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. 21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 23 Till a dart strike through his liver: as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 24 T Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of 34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: my mouth. The excellencies of wisdom: Its discipline and doctrine. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth. PROVERBS. 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. 27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. DOTH CHAP. VIII. 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. 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. 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his com mandment; when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. 7 For my mouth shall speak truth: and 32 Now therefore hearken unto me, 0 wickedness is an abomination to my lips. ye children: for blessed are they that keep 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 under- 34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, standeth, and right to them that find know-watching daily at my gates, waiting at the ledge. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. posts of my doors. 35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 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 be compared to it. CHAP. IX. 12 I Wisdom dwell with prudence, and Wath hewn out her seven pillars: ISDOM hath builded her house, she find out knowledge of witty inventions. 13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: 2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, mingled her wine; she hath also furnished and the froward mouth, do I hate. 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. her table. 3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, 4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate 20 I lead in the way of righteousness, thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love in the midst of the paths of judgment: thee. 21 That I may cause those that love me 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and to inherit substance; and I will fill their he will be vet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. treasures. 22 The LORD possessed me in the be- 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginginning of his way, before his works of old. ning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the 23 f was set up from everlasting, from holy is understanding. the beginning, or ever the earth was. 11 For by me thy days shall be multi24 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 Of sundry moral virtues, CHAP. X, XI. and their contrary vices. for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone eth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips shalt bear it. 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 HE proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the beaviness 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. is wise. 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 LORD, 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. 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. 28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. 29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. 31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. CHAP. XI. 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 FALSE balance is abomination to the surely but he that perverteth his ways LORD: but a just weight is his delight. shall be known. 2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 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. 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. A 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 14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the taken in their own naughtiness. mouth of the foolish is near destruction. 7 When a wicked man dieth, his ex15 The rich man's wealth is his strong pectation shall perish: and the hope of city: the destruction of the poor is their unjust men perisheth. poverty. 16 The labour of the righteous tende to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin. 17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof 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 & The righteous is delivered out of trou ble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. 9 A hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. 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. he 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 he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. 20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. 21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. 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. 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 ser vant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. 10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. 11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. 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 come out of trouble. tion. 23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. 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. 27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. 14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recom pence 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. 19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a 28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: moment. but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. -20 Deceit is in the heart of them that 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. 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. mischief. vant to the wise of heart. 31 Behold, the righteous shall be re- 22 Lying lips are abomination to the compensed in the earth: much more the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. wicked and the sinner. W CHAP. XII. 23 A prudent man concealet know HOSO loveth instruction loveth ledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth knowledge but he that hateth foolishness. 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. |