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Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause;
And deceive not with thy lips.

29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me:
I will render to the man according to his work.

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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,

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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,
And the heart of kings 3 is unsearchable.

Take away the dross from the silver,

And there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Take away the wicked from before the king,

And his throne shall be established in righteousness.
4 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 up hither;
Than that thou shouldest be put lower

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In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
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.

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A word fitly spoken

Is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,
So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

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.

Whoso boasteth himself 7 of a false gift

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded,

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Is like clouds and wind without rain.

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And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

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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.

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A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour
Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather,
And as vinegar upon nitre,

So is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

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.

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1 The north wind driveth away rain :

So doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,
Than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
As cold waters to a thirsty soul,

So is good news from a far country.

A righteous man falling down before the wicked
Is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
It is not good to eat much honey:

So for men to search their own glory is not glory.
He that hath no rule over his own spirit

Is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,

So honour is not seemly for a fool.

As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying,
So the curse causeless shall not come.

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,
Lest thou also be like unto him.

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
Cutteth off the feet, and drinketh 3 damage.

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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,
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

6 The great God that formed all things

Both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
As a dog returneth to his vomit,

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

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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.
5 Or, As he that putteth a
precious stone in an heap
of stones.

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6 Or, A great man grieveth all,
and he hireth the fool, he hireth
also transgressors.

7 Heb. iterateth his folly.
8 Or, he is weary.

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,

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And they go down into the 5 innermost parts of the belly.
Burning lips and a wicked heart

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.

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Boast not thyself of 9 to-morrow;

For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth;
A stranger, and not thine own lips.

A stone is 10 heavy, and the sand weighty;
But a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.
11 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous;
But who is able to stand before 12 envy?

Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

But the kisses of an enemy are 13 deceitful.
The full soul 14 loatheth an honeycomb ;

But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
As a bird that wandereth from her nest,

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.
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.
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,

That I may answer him that reproacheth me.

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself;
But the simple pass on, and are punished.

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,

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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.
9 Heb. to-morrow day.

10 Heb. heaviness.

11 Heb. Wrath is cruelty, and an-
ger an overflowing.

12 Or, jealousy.

13 Or, carnest, or, frequent. 14 Heb. treadeth under foot 15 Heb. from the counsel of the soul.

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Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof:
So he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
As in water face answereth to face,

So the heart of man to man.

Hell and destruction are never full;
So the eyes of man are never satisfied.

As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold;
So is a man to his praise.

Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar
Among wheat with a pestle,

Yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks,
And look well to thy herds.

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,

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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.
Evil men understand not judgment:

But they that seek the LORD understand all things.
Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness,

Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son:

But he that 8 is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
He that by usury and 9 unjust gain increaseth his substance,
He shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

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,
He shall fall himself into his own pit:

But the upright shall have good things in possession.
The rich man is wise 10 in his own conceit;

But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory :
But when the wicked rise, a man is 11 hidden.

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:

But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Happy is the man that feareth alway:

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But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

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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:
But he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

1 Heb. not.

2 Heb. set thy heart.

3 Heb. strength.

4 Heb. to generation and
generation.

5 Heb. life.

6 Or, by men of understand-
ing and wisdom shall they
likewise be prolonged.

7 Heb. without food.

8 Or, feedeth gluttons. 9 Heb. by increase. 10 Heb. in his eyes. 11 Or, sought for.

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A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person
Shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved:
But he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread:

But he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
A faithful man shall abound with blessings:

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.
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool:

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.
When the wicked rise, men hide themselves:

But when they perish, the righteous increase.

4 He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck,

Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice :

But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father:

But he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance,
The king by judgment establisheth the land:

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.

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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.
When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth :
But the righteous shall see their fall.

1 Or, unpunished.

2 Or, He that hath an evil eye
hasteth to be rich,

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.

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