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828 Uncertainty of riches, &c. PROVERBS. Of drunkenness, envy, &c.

21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mighteft anfwer the words of truth to them that fend unto thee?

22 Rob not the poor, becaufe he is poor: neither opprefs the afflicted in the gate; 23 For the LORD will plead their caufe, and spoil the foul of thofe that fpoiled them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man thou haft not go :

25 Left thou learn his ways, and get a fnare to thy foul.

26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are fureties for debts:

27 If thou haft nothing to pay, Why fhould he take away thy bed from under

thee ?

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WHEN thou-fitteft to eat with a ruler confider diligently what is before thee: 2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

S Be not defirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

4 Labour not to be rich ceafe from thine own wifdom.

5 Wilt thou fet thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themfelves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

6 Eat thou not the bread of him that bath an evil eye, neither defire thou his dainty meats:

7 For as he thinketh in his heart, fo is he: Eat and drink, faith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

8 The morfel which thou haft eaten fhalt thou vomit up, and lofe thy fweet words.

9 Speak not in the ears of a fool for he will defpife the wifdom of thy words.

10 Remove not the old landmark ; and enter not into the fields of the fatherlefs: 11 For their redeemer is mighty; he fhall plead their caufe with thee.

12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. 18 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 halt deliver his foul from hell. 15 My fon if thine heart be wife, my heart hall rejoice, even mine.

16 Yea, my reins hall rejoice, when thy lips fpeak right things.

17 Let not thine heart envy finners:

but be thou in the fear of the LORD alt the day long :

18 For furely there is an end: and thine expectation fhall not be cut off.

19 Hear thou, my fon,and be wife, and guide thine heart in the way.

20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh :

21 For the drunkard and the glutton fhall come to poverty and drowlines hall clothe a man with rags.

22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and defpife not thy mother when the is old.

28 Buy the truth, and fell it not; alfe wifdom, and inftruction, and underftanding.

24 The father of the righteous fhall greatly rejoice and he that begetteth a wife child thall have joy of him."

25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and the that bare thee hall rejoice. 26 My fon, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes obferve my ways.

and a

27 For a whore is a deep ditch ftrange woman is a narrow pit. 28 She alfo lieth in wait as for a prey,and increafeth the tranfgreflors among men.

29 Who hath woe? Who hath forrow? 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 feek 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 laft it biteth like a ferpent, and ftingeth like an adder.

33 Thine eyes fhall behold ftrange women, and thine heart shall utter perverfe things.

34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the fea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a maft.

35 They have ftricken me, halt thou Jay, and I was not fick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: When fhall I awake? I will feek it yet again.

CHAP. XXIV. BE not thou envious against evil men, neither defire to be with them: 2 For their heart ftudieth deftruction, and their lips talk of mifchief.

3 Through wifdom is an houfe builded; and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge fhall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleafant riches.

5 A wife man is ftrong ; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth ftrength.

6 For by wife counfel thou shalt make thy war and in multitude of counfellors there is fafety.

7 Wifdom is too high for a fool; he openeth not his mouth in the gate. & He

Bear God, and honour the king. Chap. xxv.

8 He that devifeth to do evil fhall be called a mischievous perfon.

9 The thought of foolishness is fin: and the fcorner is an abomination to men. 10 If thou faint in the day of adverfity, thy ftrength is fmall.

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

Quarrels to be avoided. 529

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

S2 Then I faw, and confidered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 88 Yet a little fleep, a little flumber, a little folding of the hands to fleep :

34 So fhall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armCHAP. XXV.

121fthau fayeft, Behold, we knew it not; Doth not he that pondereth the heart con-ed man. fideri? and he that keepeth thy foul, Doth not he know it? and, Shall not he render to every man according to his works?

13 My fon, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is fweet to thy tafte:

14 So ball the knowledge of wifdom be unto thy foul when thou haft found it,

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Obfervations on kings. 8 Of avoiding quarrels, and fundry causes thereof. THESE are alfo proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

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2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing but the honour of kings is to then there fhall be a reward, and thy ex-fearch out a matter. pectation shall not be cut off.

3 The heaven for height, and the 15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, a-earth for depth, and the heart of kings is gainst the dwelling of the righteous; fpoil unfearchable. not his refting place:

16 For a juft man falleth seven times, and rifeth up again: but the wicked fhall fall into mifchief.

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

4 Take away the drofs from the filver, and there shall come forth a veffel for the finer.

5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be eftablished in righteousness.

6 Put not forth thyfelf in the pref18 Left the LORD fee it, and it difence of the king, and ftand not in the please him, and he turn away his wrath place of great men: from him.

19 Fret not thy felf because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

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

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

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22 For their calamity shall rife fuddenly; and, Who knoweth the ruin of them both? 23 Thefe things alfo belong to the wife. It is not good to have refpect of perfons in judgment.

24 He that faith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous. him fhall the people curfe, nations fhall abhor him :

25 But to them that rebuke him fhall be delight, and a good blefling hall come upon them.

26 Every man thall kifs his lips that giveth a right answer.

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

8 Go not forth haftily to strive, left tbou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

9 Debate thy caufe with thy neighbour himself; and difcover not a secret to another;

10 Left he that heareth it put thee to fhame, and thine infamy turn not away. 11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of filver.

12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, fo is a wife reprover upon an obedient ear.

13 As the cold of fnow in the time of harveft, Jo is a faithful meffenger to them that fend him: for he refresheth the foul of his mafters.

27 Prepare thy work without, and 14 Whofo boafteth himself of a falle make it fit for thy felf in the field; and gift, is like clouds and wind without rain. afterwards build thine house.

15 By long forbearing is a prince per28 Be not a witnefs against thy neigh-fuaded, and a foft tongue breaketh the bour without caufe; and deceive not with thy lips.

29 Say not, I will do fo 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 flothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; ST

bone.

16 Haft thou found honey? Eat fo much as is fufficient for thee, left thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's houfe; left he be weary of thee, and fo hate thee.

18 A man that beareth falfe witness against

580 Of fools, Auggards,
PROVERBS.
against his neighbour is a maul, and a
fword and a fharp 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, fo is he that fingeth fongs to an heavy heart.

24 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirdly, give him water to drink :

22 For thou fhalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

23 The north wind driveth away rain: fo doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue

and contentious bufybodies,

14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, fo dorb the flothful upon his bed.

15 The flothful hideth his hand in his bofom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16 The fluggard is wifer in his own conceit than feven men that can render a reafon.

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

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

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and faith, Am not I in sport ? 20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: fo where there is no talebearer, the ftrife ceafeth.

24 it is better to dwell in a corner of 21 As coals are to burning coals, and the houfetop, than with a brawling wom-wood to fire; fo is a contentious man to an and in a wide houfe. kindle ftrife.

25 As cold waters to a thirdly foul, fo is good news from a far country. 26 A righteous man falling down be-nermoft parts of the belly. fore the wicked, is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the in

27 1: is not good to eat much honey: fo for men to fearch their own glory is not glory.

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

CHAP. XXVI.

28 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potfherd covered with filver drofs. 24 He that hateth diffembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

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

26 Whofe hatred is covered by deceit, his wickednefs fhall be thewed before the whole congregation.

1 Obfervations about fools, 13 fluggards,
17 and contentious busybodies.
AS fnow in fummer, and as rain in har-in:
veft, fo honour is not feemly for a fool.

2 As the bird by wandering, as the fwallow by flying, fo the curfe caufelefs fhall not come.

3 A whip for the horfe, a bridle for the afs, and a rod for the fool's back.

Anfwer not a fool according to his folly, left thou alfo be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, left he be wife in his own conceit.

6 He that fendeth a meffage by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

7 The legs of the lame are not equal fo is a parable in the mouth of fools. 8 Ashe that bindeth a ftone in a fling, fo is he that giveth honour to a fool.

9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, fo is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and re wardeth tranfgreffors.

11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, fo a fool returneth to his folly.

12 Seeft thou a man wife in his own conceit ? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

18 The flothful man faith, There is lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

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27 Whofo diggeth a pit fha fall thereand 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. 2 Obfervations of felf-love, 5 of truelove, 11 of care to avoid offences, 23 and of the boufe bold care.

BOAST not thyfelf of tomorrow; for thou knoweit not what a day may bring forth.

2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a ftranger, and not thine own lips.

$ Aftone is heavy, and the fand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but, Who is able to fland before envy?

5 Open rebuke is better than fecret love.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kifles of an enemy are deceitful. 7 The full foul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry foul every bitter thing is fweet.

8 As a bird that wandereth from her neft, fo is a man that wandereth from his place. 9 Ointment

On impiety and integrity. 581 They that forfake the law praise the wicked : but fuch as keep the law contend with them.

Obfervations on true love, &c. Chap. xxviii. 9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart fo doth the Tweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forfake not, neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calam ity for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

11 My fon, be wife, and make my heart glad, that I may anfwer him that reproacheth me.

12 A prudent man forefeeth the evil, and hideth himfef; but the fimple pafs on, and are punished.

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

14 He that bleffeth his friend with a loud voice, rifing early in the morning, it thall be counted a curfe to him.

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

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; fo a man harpen eth the countenance of his friend. 18 Whofo keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof; fo he that waiteth on his mafter thali be honoured.

19 As in water face anfwereth to face, fo the heart of man to man.

20 Hell and destruction are never full; fo the eyes of man are never fatisfied. 21 as the fining pot for filver, and the furnace for gold; fo is a man to his praile.

22 Though thou shouldeft bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a peftle, yer will not his foolishness depart from him 25 Be thou diligent to know the itate of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds: 2 For riches are not forever: and, Doth the crown endure to every gene

ration ?

25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grafs fheweth itfelt, 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 maintenance for thy

maidens.

CHAP. XXVIII.

3 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that feek the LORD understand all things.

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

7 Whoto keepeth the law a wife fon : but he that is a companion of riotous men fhameth his father."

8 He that by ufury and unjft gain increafeth his fubftance, he fhall 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 aftray in an evil way, he fhall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright fhall have good things in poffeffion.

11 The rich man is wife in his own conceit, but the poor that hath underftanding fearcheth him out.

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

13 He that covereth his fins fhall not profper: but whofo confeffeth and forfaketh them shall have mercy.

14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart hail fall into mifchief.

15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; fo is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

16 The prince that wanteth underlanding is alfo a great oppreflor: but he that hateth covetoufnefs thall prolong bis days.

17 A man that doeth violence to the blood of any perfon fhall flee to the pit; let no man flay him.

18 Wholo waiketh uprightly fhall be faved: but be that is pei verle in bisways hall fall at once.

19 He that tilleth his land fhall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain perfons fhall have poverty enough.

20. A faithful man fhall abound with bleffings: but he that maketh hafte to be rich shall not be innocent.

21 To have refpect of perfons is not General obfervations of impiety and re-good: for, for a piece of bread that man

ligious integrity.

THE wicked flee when no man pursu eth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. 2 For the tranfgreffion of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the ftate thereof fhall be prolonged.

SA poor man that oppreffeth the poor is like a fweeping rain which leaveth no

food.

will tranfgefs.

22 He that hafteth to be rich bath an [evil eye, and confidereth not that poverty hall come upon him

23 He that rebuketh a man, afterwards hall find more favour than he that fiattereth with the tongue.

24 Whofo robbeth his father or his mother, and faith, It is no tranfgreffion; the fame is the companion of a destroyer.

582 Of publick government, &c. PROVERBS.

Of anger, pride, &c. 25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth words: for though he understand he will up ftrife: but he that putteth his truft in not answer. the LORD fhall be made fat.

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CHAP. XXIX.

20 Seeft thou a man that is hafty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

21 He that delicately bringeth up his fervant from a child, fhall have him become his fon at the length.

22¶An angry man ftirreth up ftrife, and a furious man aboundeth in tranfgreffion.

23 A man's pride fhall bring him low: but honour fhall uphold the humble in fpirit.

1 Obfervations of publick government, 15 and of private. 22 Of anger, pride, 24 Whofo is partner with a thief hateth thievery, cowardice, and .orruption. his own foul: he heareth curfing, and HE that, being often reproved,harden-bewrayeth it not. eth his neck, fhall fuddenly be destroyed, 25 The fear of man bringeth a fnare : but whofo putteth his truft in the LORD shall be fafe.

and that without remedy.

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

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

3 Whofo loveth wifdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company 27 An unjust man is an abomination to with harlots fpendeth his fubftance. the juft and be that is upright in the 4 The king by judgment establisheth way is an abomination to the wicked. the land but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

5 A man that flattereth his neighbour Spreadeth a net for his feet.

6 In the tranfgreffion of an evil man there is a fnare : but the righteous doth fing and rejoice.

7 The righteous confidereth the caufe of the poor; but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

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8 Scornful men bring a city into a fnare but wife men turn away wrath. 9 If a wife man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh|

there is no rest.

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CHAP. XXX.

1 Agur's confeffion of bis faith. 7 The two points of bis prayer. 10 The meanest are Hot to be wronged. 11 Four wicked gen erations. 16 Four things infatiable. 17 Parents are not 10 be defpifed. 18 Four things hard to be known. 21 Four things intolerable. 2 Four things ex ceeding wife. 29 Four things fiately. 52 Wrath is to be prevented.

THE words of Agur the fon of Jakeh, even the prophecy the man fpake unte Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal.

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

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

4 Who hath afcended up into heaven, or defcended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fifts? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath establimed all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his fon's name, if thou cant tell?

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

15 The rod and reproof give wiflum. dom: "but a child left to bimfelf bringeth his mother to shame.

16 When the wicked are multiplied, tranfgreffion increaseth ; but the righteous thall fee their fall.

17 Correct thy fon, and he fhall give thee reft; yea, he fhall give delight unto thy foul.

18 Where there is no vifion, the people perish but he that keepeth the law, hap py is he.

19 A fervant will not be corrected by

6 Add thou not unto his words, left he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. 74 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I'die :

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

9 Left I be full, and deny thee, and fay, Who is the LORD? Or, left I be poor, and fteal, and take the name of my God

in vain.

10 Accufe not a fervant unto his mafter,

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