Page images
PDF
EPUB

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

16

2

A wise son maketh a glad father:
But a foolish man despiseth his mother.

Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom:
But a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
Without counsel purposes are disappointed:

But in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth:
And a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
The way of life is above to the wise,

That he may depart from hell beneath.

The LORD will destroy the house of the proud :

But he will establish the border of the widow.

The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD:
But the words of the pure are 3 pleasant words.

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house :
But he that hateth gifts shall live.

The heart of the righteous studieth to answer:

But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
The LORD is far from the wicked:

But he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart:
And a good report maketh the bones fat.

The ear that heareth the reproof of life
Abideth among the wise.

He that refuseth 4 instruction despiseth his own soul:
But he that 5 heareth reproof getteth understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom;
And before honour is humility.

The 7 preparations of the heart in man,

And the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;

The LORD hath made all things for himself:

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD:
Though hand join in hand, he shall not be 9 unpunished,

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged:

And by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
When a man's ways please the LORD,

He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Better is a little with righteousness

Than great revenues without right.

But the LORD weigheth the spirits.

3

8 Commit thy works unto the LORD,

And thy thoughts shall be established.

[blocks in formation]

A man's heart deviseth his way:

But the LORD directeth his steps.

10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king:

His mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

A just weight and balance are the LORD'S:

11 All the weights of the bag are his work.

It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: For the throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the delight of kings;

And they love him that speaketh right.

The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: But a wise man will pacify it.

In the light of the king's countenance is life;

And his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

1 Heb. void of heart.

2 Heb. in his season.

3 Heb. words of pleasantness.

4 Or, correction.

5 Or, obcyeth.

6 Heb. possesseth an heart.
7 Or, disposings.

8 Heb. Roll.

9 Heb. held innocent. 10 Heb. Divination. 11 Heb. all the stones.

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

17

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold?

And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver?
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil :
He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

Pride goeth before destruction,

And an haughty spirit before a fall.

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

1 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good :
And whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

The wise in heart shall be called prudent:

And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it:
But the instruction of fools is folly.

The heart of the wise 2 teacheth his mouth,

And addeth learning to his lips.

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb,

Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man,
But the end thereof are the ways of death.
3 He that laboureth laboureth for himself;
For his mouth craveth it of him.

5 An ungodly man diggeth up evil :
And in his lips there is as a burning fire.
A froward man 6 soweth strife;

And a whisperer separateth chief friends.

A violent man enticeth his neighbour,
And leadeth him into the way that is not good.
He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things:
Moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

The hoary head is a crown of glory,

If it be found in the way of righteousness.

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
The lot is cast into the lap;

But the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith,

Than an house full of 7 sacrifices with strife.

2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame,

3

And shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold:

But the LORD trieth the hearts.

4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips;

5

6

And a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker:

And he that is glad at calamities shall not be 8 unpunished.
Children's children are the crown of old men ;

And the glory of children are their fathers.

7 9 Excellent speech becometh not a fool:

8

9

10

Much less do 10 lying lips a prince.

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it:
Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

He that covereth a transgression 12 seeketh love;

But he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
13 A reproof entereth more into a wise man

Than a hundred stripes into a fool.

1 Or, He that understandeth a matter.
2 Heb. maketh wise.

3 Heb. The soul of him that laboureth.

4 Heb. boweth unto him.

5 Heb. A man of Belial.

6 Heb. sendeth forth.

7 Or, good cheer.

[blocks in formation]

11

An evil man seeketh only rebellion:

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man,
Rather than a fool in his folly.

Whoso rewardeth evil for good,

Evil shall not depart from his house.

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water:
Therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just,
Even they both are abomination to the LORD.

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom,
Seeing he hath no heart to it?

A friend loveth at all times,

And a brother is born for adversity.

A man void of ' understanding striketh hands,
And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife:
And he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
2 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good:
And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow :
And the father of a fool hath no joy.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
But a broken spirit drieth the bones.

A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom
To pervert the ways of judgment.

Wisdom is before him that hath understanding;
But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
A foolish son is a grief to his father,

And bitterness to her that bare him.
Also to punish the just is not good,
Nor to strike princes for equity.

He that hath knowledge spareth his words:

And a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise:

And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

5 Through desire a man, having separated himself, Seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

A fool hath no delight in understanding,

But that his heart may discover itself.

When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, And with ignominy reproach.

The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters,

And the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

[blocks in formation]

And his lips are the snare of his soul.

8

9

It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, To overthrow the righteous in judgment.

A fool's lips enter into contention,

10

11

The words of a 6 talebearer are 7 as wounds,

And they go down into the 8 innermost parts of the belly.
He also that is slothful in his work

Is brother to him that is a great waster.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And as an high wall in his own conceit.

1 Heb. heart.

2 Heb. The froward of heart.

3 Heb. to a medicine.

4 Or, a cool spirit.

5 Or, He that separateth himself seek-
eth according to his desire, and in-
termeddleth in every business.

6 Or, whisperer.

7 Or, like as when men

are wounded.

8 Heb. chambers. 9 Heb. is set alaft.

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

21

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
And before honour is humility.

1

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it,
It is folly and shame unto him.

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;
But a wounded spirit who can bear?

The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge;
And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
A man's gift maketh room for him,
And bringeth him before great men.

He that is first in his own cause seemeth just;
But his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
The lot causeth contentions to cease,

And parteth between the mighty.

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city :
And their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
And with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue :
And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,

22

23

24

And obtaineth favour of the LORD.

The poor useth intreaties;

But the rich answereth roughly.

A man that hath friends must show himself friendly:
And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

19 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity,
Than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good;
And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

The foolishness of man perverteth his way:
And his heart fretteth against the LORD.

Wealth maketh many friends;

But the poor is separated from his neighbour.
A false witness shall not be unpunished,
And he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Many will intreat the favour of the prince:
And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
All the brethren of the poor do hate him:

How much more do his friends go far from him?

He pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul:

He that keepeth understanding shall find good.
A false witness shall not be unpunished,

And he that speaketh lies shall perish.

Delight is not seemly for a fool;

Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
The 5 discretion of a man deferreth his anger;
And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion;
But his favour is as dew upon the grass.

A foolish son is the calamity of his father:

And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers:

And a prudent wife is from the LORD.

Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep;

And an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul;
But he that despiseth his ways shall die.

1 Heb. returneth a word.
2 Heb. held innocent.

3 Heb. a man of gifts.
4 Heb. an heart.

5 Or, prudence.

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

20

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD;
And that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Chasten thy son while there is hope,

And let not thy soul spare 2 for his crying.

A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment:
For if thou deliver him, yet thou must 3 do it again.
Hear counsel, and receive instruction,

That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

There are many devices in a man's heart;

Nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
The desire of a man is his kindness:

And a poor man is better than a liar.

The fear of the LORD tendeth to life:
And he that hath it shall abide satisfied;
He shall not be visited with evil.

A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Smite a scorner, and the simple 4 will beware:

And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother,

Is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

Cease, my son, to hear the instruction

That causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
"An ungodly witness scorneth judgment:
And the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
Judgments are prepared for scorners,

And stripes for the back of fools.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging:

And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion:

Whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife:
But every fool will be meddling.

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the 6 cold;
Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;

But a man of understanding will draw it out.

Most men will proclaim every one his own 7 goodness:
But a faithful man who can find?

The just man walketh in his integrity:

His children are blessed after him.

A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment
Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

Who can say, I have made my heart clean,

I am pure from my sin?

8 Divers weights, and divers measures,

Both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
Even a child is known by his doings,

Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,

The LORD hath made even both of them.

Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty;

Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
It is naught! It is naught! saith the buyer:
But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies:

But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »