Love to our enemies.

CHAP. XXV, XXVI, XXVII. of tale-bearers and busybodies 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

CHAP. XXV.
Observations about kings, &c.
THESE are also proverbs of Solomon, wnich
Tthe men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied be

ness.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he. wise in his own conceit.

6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. 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 drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. 11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

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 12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? up hither; than that thou shouldest be put low-there is more hope of a fool than of him. er in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes 13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in have seen. the way; a lion is in the streets. 14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

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

13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. 14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone." 16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. 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 or 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 tongue. 24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

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.
CHAP. XXVI.

Observations about fools, &c.
A so honour is not seemly for a fool.
S snow in summer, and as rain in harvest;
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.

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 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, the strife ceaseth. 21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 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 deceft, 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. CHAP. XXVII.

Uncertainty of the morrow, &c.

BOAST not thyself of to-morrow; for thou
knowest not what a day may bring forth,
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine
own mouth; a stranger, and not 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.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the
kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

7 The full soul loatheth a honey-comb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 8 As a bird that wandereth fron her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's 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.

363

12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief himself; but the simple pass on, and are pun- 15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

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 man is wi in his own conceit, but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

1% When righteous men do rejoice, there is grent glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: 17 Correct thy son, and be shall give thee rest; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. have mercy. 18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: 14 Happy is the man that feareth always: but he' but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Of anger, pride, thieving, &c,

21

CHAP. XXX, XXXI. Praise and properties of a good wife.
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;

19 A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer. 20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him. 21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.

22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

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;

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 is in kings' palaces.
man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the
just; and he that is upright in the way is abonii-
nation to the wicked.
CHAP. XXX.

THE

Agur's confession and prayer. HE words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

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

3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment?

who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thec, and thou be found a liar.

7 Two things have I required of thee; me them not before I die:

deny

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

10 Accuse not a servant unto his master lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

11 There is a generation that curseth their fa ther, and doth not bless their mother

12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

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

14 There is a generation, whose teeth 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 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 man with a maid.

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

28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and

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 bringoth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

CHAP. XXXI.

Lemuel's lesson of chastity, &c. THE words of king Lemuel, the prophecy 2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? 3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

that his mother taught him.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 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 of heavy hearts. 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 rubics.

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

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.

20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, i 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when have done no wickedness. The sitteth among the elders of the land.

All human courses dain.

ECCLESIASTES. 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.

The vanities of pleasures 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD,sheshall be praised. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her house-31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let hold, and eateth not the bread of idleness. her own works praise her in the gates.

TECCLESIASTES, or the PREACHER.

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

4 One generation passeth away,and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. 5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

71 got me servants and maidens, and had ser

vants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me;

81 gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings, and of the provinces: gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

9 So I was great, and increased more than all 6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turn-that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wiseth about unto the north; it whirleth about con- dom remained with me. tinually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart froin any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but that are to come with those that shall come after. the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself' per12 ¶ I the Preacher was king over Israel in Je-ceived also that one event happeneth to them all. rusalem. 15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to 13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why by wisdom concerning all things that are done was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, under heaven: this sore travail hath God given that this also is vanity. to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

16 For there is no remembrance of the wise

14 I have seen all the works that are done un-more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which der the sun; and behold, all is vanity and vexa-now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. tion of spirit. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. 17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 18 1 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. CHAP 11

20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

The vanity of pleasure. 21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisSAID in my heart, Go to now, I will prove dom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: a man that hath not laboured therein shall he and behold, this also is vanity. leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

3 I sought in my heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting my heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:

22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of. the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

24 ¶ There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that he should 5I made me gardens and orchards, and I plant-make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This ed trees in them of all kind of fruits: that it was from the hand of God.

also I saw,

What God does is for ever.

CHAP. III, IV, V.

Vanities in divine service 25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten 2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are alhereunto more than I? ready dead more than the living which are yet

26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his alive. sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to 3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work up, that he may give to him that is good before that is done under the sun.

CHAP. III.

God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. 4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

A time for all things.

To every thing there is a season, and a time

to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour; it is the gift of God.

14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

6 Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the

sun.

8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches: neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. 91 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but wo to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 1 Better is a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be adnonished.

14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

CHAP. V.

Against oppression, &c.
EEP thy foot when thou goest to the house

ready hear,

16 ¶ And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was that they do evil. there.

2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy

17 I said in my heart, God shall judge the right-heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: eous and the wicked: for there is a time there for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: for every purpose and for every work. therefore let thy words be few.

18 I said in my heart concerning the estate of 3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, business; and a fool's voice is known by multiand that they might see that they themselves tude of words. are beasts.

4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than have all one breath; so that a man hath no pre- that thou shouldest vow and not pay. eminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands? upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many downward to the earth? words there are also divers vanities: but fear

22 Wherefore 1 perceive that there is nothing thou God. better, than that a man should rejoice in his own 8 T If thou seest the oppression of the poor, works; for that is his portion: for who shall and violent perverting of judgment and justice bring him to see what shall be after him? in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

CHAP. IV.

The advantages of society.

I returned, and considered all the oppres

the king timely is served by the
9 Moreover, the profit of the earth is for all:

the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with there was power; but they had no comforter. increase: this is also vanity.