28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; 29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: 30 I went by the field of the slothful, 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 considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth ; And thy want as 2 an armed man. PART IV. 25 THESE are ALSO PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, 2 3 4 5 6 WHICH THE MEn of Hezekiah KING OF JUDAH COPIED OUT. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: But the honour of kings is to search out a matter. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, Take away the dross from the silver, And there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. And his throne shall be established in righteousness. 7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; 8 In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. 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 12 13 6 A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him : Whoso boasteth himself 7 of a false gift By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, 14 Is like clouds and wind without rain. 15 And a soft tongue breaketh the bone. 16 17 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. 8 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; Lest he be 9 weary of thee, and so hate thee. 1 Heb. set my heart. 2 Heb. a man of shield. 3 Heb. there is no searching. 4 Heb. Set not out thy glory. 5 Or, discover not the secret of another. 6 Heb. spoken upon his wheels. 7 Heb. in a gift of falsehood. 8 Or, Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house. 9 Heb. full of thee. 18 19 20 21 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, So is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; 23 24 25 26 27 28 26 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1 The north wind driveth away rain : So doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. So is good news from a far country. A righteous man falling down before the wicked So for men to search their own glory is not glory. Is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. So honour is not seemly for a fool. As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the fool's back. Answer not a fool according to his folly, Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in 2 his own conceit. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool 4 The legs of the lame are not equal: So is a parable in the mouth of fools. 5 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honour to a fool. As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, 6 The great God that formed all things Both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. So a fool returneth to his folly. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. 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 ; It grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit 17 Than seven inen that can render a reason. He that passeth by, and 9 meddleth with strife belonging not to him, Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. 1 Or, The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. 2 Heb. his own eyes. 3 Or, violence. 4 Heb. are lifted up. Ee 6 Or, A great man grieveth all, 7 Heb. iterateth his folly. 9 Or, is enraged. 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 2 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: So where there is no 3 talebearer, the strife 4 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 talebearer are as wounds, 23 And they go down into the 5 innermost parts of the belly. Are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. 24 He that hateth 6 dissembleth with his lips, And layeth up deceit within him; 25 When he 7 speaketh fair, believe him not: For there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 8 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness shall be showed 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. 27 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Boast not thyself of 9 to-morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. A stone is 10 heavy, and the sand weighty; Open rebuke is better than secret love. But the kisses of an enemy are 13 deceitful. But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. So is a man that wandereth from his place. Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: So doth the sweetness of a man's friend 15 by hearty counsel. That I may answer him that reproacheth me. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, And take a pledge of him for a strange woman. He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him. A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike. 16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, 17 And the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself. Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. 1 Heb. flames, or, sparks. 2 Heb. Without wood. 3 Or, whisperer. 4 Heb. is silent. b Heb. chambers. 6 Or, is known. 7 Heb. maketh his voice gracious. 8 Or, Hatred is covered in secret. 10 Heb. heaviness. 11 Heb. Wrath is cruelty, and an- 12 Or, jealousy. 13 Or, carnest, or, frequent. 14 Heb. treadeth under foot 15 Heb. from the counsel of the soul. 18 19 20 21 22 23 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: So the heart of man to man. Hell and destruction are never full; As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar Yet will not his foolishness depart from him. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, 24 For riches are not for ever: And doth the crown endure 4 to every generation? 25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass 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, 28 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 And for the maintenance for thy maidens. The wicked flee when no man pursueth: But the righteous are bold as a lion. For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: But by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged. A poor man that oppresseth the poor Is like a sweeping rain 7 which leaveth no food. They that forsake the law praise the wicked: But such as keep the law contend with them. But they that seek the LORD understand all things. Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. But he that 8 is a companion of riotous men shameth his father. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer shall be abomination. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, But the upright shall have good things in possession. But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 13 14 But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. 15 16 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; So is a wicked ruler over the poor people. The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: 1 Heb. not. 2 Heb. set thy heart. 3 Heb. strength. 4 Heb. to generation and 5 Heb. life. 6 Or, by men of understand- 7 Heb. without food. 8 Or, feedeth gluttons. 9 Heb. by increase. 10 Heb. in his eyes. 11 Or, sought for. 17 18 19 20 21 92 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 2 3 A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: But he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. To have respect of persons is not good: For for a piece of bread that man will transgress. 2 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, And considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. He that rebuketh a man Afterwards shall find more favour Than he that flattereth with the tongue. Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, And saith, It is no transgression; The same is the companion of 3 a destroyer. He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: But he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: But he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. But when they perish, the righteous increase. 4 He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. But he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance, But he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it. A man that flattereth his neighbour Spreadeth a net for his feet. In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: But the righteous doth sing and rejoice. The righteous considereth the cause of the poor But the wicked regardeth not to know it. Scornful men 7 bring a city into a snare : But wise men turn away wrath. If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, Whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 8 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: But the just seek his soul. A fool uttereth all his mind: But a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. If a ruler hearken to lies, All his servants are wicked. The poor and 9 the deceitful man meet together: The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, The rod and reproof give wisdom: But a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. 1 Or, unpunished. 2 Or, He that hath an evil eye 3 Heb. a man destroying. 4 Heb. A man of reproofs. 5 Or, increased. 6 Heb. a man of oblations. 7 Or, set a city on fire. 8 Heb. Men of blood. 9 Or, the usurer. |