Of sundry moral vrtues, PROVERBS, XXII. and their contrary vices 7 The robbery of the wicked shall] B. C. 1000. | 28 A 11 false witness shall perish: 3 destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. 8 The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right. 9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, than with a 4 brawling woman in 5a wide house. 10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour favour in his eyes. 11 3 4 6 saw, or, woman of conten- 5 an house of is not fa- c Ps.107.43. findeth no Ho. 14.9. d Mat. 18.33, but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. 29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he 12 directeth his way. 30 There n is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the LORD. 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but 13 safety is of the LORD. CHAPTER XXII. GOOD rather to be the When the scorner is punished; e Mat.7.23. A chosen thame is re riches, and simple is made wise: the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. sport. g ch.11.8. desert. h Lu.6.45. loving favour rather than silver and gold. 2 The a rich and poor meet to them all. 3 A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. 12 The righteous man wisely c i Mat.25.3,4. 15 It is joy to the just to do judg-10 ment: but e destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 16 The man ƒ that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. 17 He that loveth" pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. 18 The wicked g shall be a ransom 18 The wicked g shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. 19 It is better to dwell in the 8 wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. 7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the 5 lender. 8 Hed that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and 6 the rod of his anger shall fail. shall be blessed; for he giveth of 97 He that hath a bountiful eye e his bread to the poor. 10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. 11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king fshall be his friend. 12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, g and he overthroweth the 9 words of the transgressor. 13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. 14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he h that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall or, with the 8 or, and hath 15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 16 He i that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that Is.59.19-21. giveth to the rich, shall surely come h Ec.7.26. 9 or, matters. í Mi.2.2-5. 27 The sacrifice m of the wicked is abomination: how much more, 10 in thy when he bringeth it 10 with a wick- belly. ed mind? to want. 17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply k thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them 10 within thee. PROVERBS, XXIII. Of sundry moral virtues, they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, 11 even to thee? B. C. 1000. 11 or, trust thou also. I 1 Pe.3.15. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and 12 or, those knowledge? 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer/ the words of truth to 12 them that send unto thee. 22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23 Form the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 24 Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. 26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? that send m Mal.3.5. n ch.12.24. 14 obscure. (CHAP. 23.) a 1Ti.6.9,10. 1 ch.26.12. cause thine eyes to fly. c ch.22.28. 2 or, bound. d ch.22.17. e ICo.5.5. 28 Remove not the ancient 13 landmark, which thy fathers have set. fch.29.3. 29 Seest thou a man diligent n in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before 14 mean men. 3 or, I will rejoice. g Ps.37.1-3. 73.3,17. CHAPTER XXIII. WHEN thou sittest to eat with 4 or, reward. a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: 2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. h ch.4.23. i Lu.21.34. Ro.13.13. 3 Be not desirous of his dainties: 5 their flesh. for they are deceitful meat. 4 Labour a not to be rich: ceasek ch.30.17. from thine own b wisdom. 5 Wilt thou 1 set thine eyes upon 1 that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: Ep.6. 1,2. Mat. 13.44. m ch.4.5,7. n ch.10.1. 15.20. 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, o Ps. 119.2. so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. ch.22.14. 8 The morsel which thou hast eat-q ch.7.12. en shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. 6 or, a robber. 9 Speak not in the ears of a fool:r Is.5.11,22. for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. 10 Removec not the old 2 landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless : Hab.2.5. or, a cockatrice. 8 heart. 11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee. Je.5.3. 12 Apply thine heart d unto in and their contrary vices. |struction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. 13 Withhold not correction from the child for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and e shalt deliver his soul from hell. 15 My son, iff thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even 3 mine. 16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. 17 Letg not thine heart envy sinners but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. 18 For surely there is an 4 end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. 19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart h in the way. 20 Be i not among wine-bibbers; among riotous eaters of 5 flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. 22 Hearken k unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, m and instruction, and understanding. 24 The father n of the righteous shall greatly rejoice, and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. 25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. 26 My son, give me thine heart, o and let thine eyes observe my ways. 27 For a whore is a deep ditch; p and a strange woman is a narrow pit. 28 She also lieth q in wait as 6 for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. 29 Who hath woe? r who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like 7 an adder. 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the 8 midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. 35 They have stricken s me, shall Of sundry moral virtues, PROVERBS, XXIV, XXV. thou say, and I was not sick; they | B. C. 1000. have beaten me, and I 9 felt it not: when shall I awake? It will seek 9 knew.' it yet again. CHAPTER XXIV. Bevil 2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips b talk of mischief. t Is.56.12. b Ps. 10.7. 3 Through wisdom c is an housed builded; and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious d and pleasant riches. e ch.21.22. in strength. 2 strengtheneth might. 5 A e wise man is 1 strong; yea, af Ps. 10.5. man of knowledge increaseth strength. g ch.14.22. 6 For by wise counsel thou shalt h Mat.5.28. make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. 7 Wisdom is too high f for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. i He. 12.5. k Ps.82.4. and their contrary vices. 21 My son, fearr thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with 8 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 s good to have respect of persons in judgment. 24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: 25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a 9 good blessing shall come upon them. 26 Every man shall kiss his lips that 10 giveth a right answer. 27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. 28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. 29 Say t not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. 8 He that deviseth g to do evil shall upon thy 30 I went by the field of the slothbe called a mischievous person. 9 The thought h of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. palate. m Ps. 19.10. o Mi.7.8. 10 If thou faint i in the day of ad-n Je. 15. 16. versity, thy strength is 3 small. 11 If thou forbear to deliver kp Am.8.14. them that are drawn unto death, and 9 Job 31.29. those that are ready to be slain; 12 If thou sayest, Behold, we 5 be evil in his eyes. ful, 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. 32 Then I saw, and 11 considered it well; I looked upon it, and received instruction. knew it not; doth not he that pon- 6 or, keep not 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slum company with the wicked. dereth the heart consider it? and 8 changers. 9 13 My son, eat thou honey, be-~~ cause it is good; and the honey-r 1 Pe.2.13-17. comb, which is sweet 4 to thy taste: 14 wis Som shall the knowledge of Le. 19.15. wisdom be unto thy when thou hast n found it, then there blessing of shall be a reward, and thy expec-10 answereth good. tation shall not be cut off. 15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, right words. against the dwelling of the right-t Mat.5.39,44. eous; spoil not his resting place: Ro. 12.17,19. 16 For a just man falleth seven 11 set my times, and riseth o up again; but p the wicked shall fall into mischief. 12 a man of 17 Rejoice q not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it 5 displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. 19 6 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 7 candle of the wicked shall be put out. heart. shield. (CHAP. 25.) 1 there is no 2 Set not out ber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as 12 an armed man. CHAPTER XXV. Observations about kings, and about avoiding quarrels. Tsolomon, which the verbs of HESE are also men Hezekiah, king of Judah copied out. ceal a thing: but the honour of 2 It a is the glory of God to conkings is to search out b a matter. 3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings 1 is unsearchable. 4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. 5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. 6 2 Put not c 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 thy glory.that thou shouldest be put lower in c Lu. 14.8-10. the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. Observations about kings. Observations about fools. CHAPTER XXVI. Observations about fools, sluggards, and busy-bodies. PROVERBS, XXVI. 8 God not forth hastily to strive, | B. C. 1000. lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour d ch.17.14. hath put thee to shame. e Mat.5.25.arvest, so honour is not snow in summer, and as rain 18.15. 9 Debate thy cause with thy neigh- 3 a secret to another: another. 10 Lest he that heareth it put thee 4 spoken to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. upon his wheels. 11 A word 4 fitly spoken is like ap-|ƒ ch.1.8,9. ples of gold in pictures of silver. 12 As an ear-ring of gold, and an g Lu. 18. 10, &c. 2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless a shall not come. 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. 4 Answer not a fool according to ornament ƒ of fine gold, so is a wise 5 in a gift of his folly, lest thou also be like unto 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 g himself 5 of a false gift is like clouds h and wind without rain. 5 falsehood. h Jude 12. 15 By long forbearing is a prince k Ex.23.4,5. persuaded, and a soft tongue broaketh the bone. 16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. 17 6 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be 7 weary of thee, and so hate thee. 18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, i and a sharp arrow. Ro. 12.20. 7 2Sa. 16.12. him. 5 Answerb a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own 1 conceit. 6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool, cutteth off the feet, and drinketh 2 damage. 7 The legs of the lame are 3 not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 8 As he that 4 bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour 8 or, bringeth | to a fool. forth rain; so doth a backliting tongue an angry countenance. (CHAP. 26.) 19 Confidence in an unfaithful a Nu.23.8. man in time of trouble is like a b Mat.21.24. broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. 20 As he that taketh away a gar-3 ment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an 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 7 thee. 23 The north wind 8 driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. 9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 10 5 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. 11 As c a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool 6 returneth to his folly. 12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? d there is more hope of a fool than of him, 13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way, a lion is in the streets. 14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. 15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; 7 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 8 meddleth with strife belonging not to him is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. 18 As a mad man who casteth 9 firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? 20 Where 10 no wood is, there the fire goeth out; so where there is no 11 tale-bearer, the strife 12 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 13 innermost parts of the belly. 2 heaviness. an ever3 cruelty. flowing. 4 c 1Jno.3.12. CHAPTER XXVII. Observations of self-love, and of cares jealousy, to avoid offences. ch.6.34. OAST not a thyself of 1 to-mord ch.28.23. DAST row; for thou knowest note Ps. 141.5. what a day may bring forth. 2 Let anotherb man praise thee, and not thine own mouth, a stranger, and not thine own lips. 3 A stone is 2 heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both. 4 Wrath is 3 cruel, and anger is 4 outrageous; but who c is able to stand before 5 envy? 5 Opend rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful e are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are 6 deceitful. 7 The full soul 7 loatheth an honey-comb; but fto the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 6 earnest, or, frequent. 7 treadeth under foot. fJob 6.7. from the counsel of the soul. g ch. 18.24. h ch.23.15,24. i Ps.57.1-3. A ch. 19.13. m 1Co.9.7,13. Mar. 10.43. n ch.30. 16. 9 not. o Ec.1.8. p Is. 1.5. 10 set thy heart. 8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wander-11 eth from his place. 9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend 8 by hearty counsel. strength. q Ja. 1.10,10 generation 12 and gencration. r Ps. 104.14. à Lev.26.17.' Ps.53.5. 10 Thine own friend, and thy fa-13 life. ther's friend, forsake not; neither (CHAP. 28.) go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better 91 or, men of g is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off. 11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, h that I may answer him that reproacheth me. 12 A prudent man foreseeth i the evil, and hideth 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 a strange woman. 14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. 15 A continual k dropping in a understanding and wisdom shall they likewise be. b Mat. 18.28. 2 without food. c Ps. 10.3. d Ep.5.11. e Ps.92.6. f Jno.7.17. 3 or, feedeth gluttons. g Job 27.16. 4 by increase. avoid offences. 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 m his master shall be honoured. 19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. 20 Hell n and destruction are 9 never full; so o 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 p 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 10 look well to thy herds. 24 For 11 riches are not q for ever: and doth the crown endure to 12 every generation? 25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass r showeth 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 for the 13 maintenance for thy maidens. CHAPTER XXVIII. General observations of impiety, and religious integrity. THE wicked flee when a no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. 2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by 1 a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged. the poor is like a sweeping rain 3 A poor b man that oppresseth 2 which leaveth no food. 4 They c that forsake the law praise the wicked: but_such as keep the law contend with d them. 5 Evile men understand not judgment but they f that seek the LORD understand all things. 6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. 7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that 3 is a companion of riotous men shameth his father. 8 Heg that by usury and 4 unjust |