The Holy BiblePart 36 out of 74prudence, for it is more precious than silver. 16:17. The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way. 16:18. Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall. 16:19. It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud. 16:20. The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed. 16:21. The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words, shall attain to greater things. 16:22. Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness. 16:23. The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips. 16:24. Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 16:25. There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death. 16:26. The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it. 16:27. The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire. 16:28. A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes. 16:29. An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good. 16:30. He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth evil to pass. 16:31. Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice. 16:32. The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh cities. 16:33. Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord. Proverbs Chapter 17 17:1. Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife. 17:2. A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren. 17:3. As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts. 17:4. The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips. 17:5. He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his maker: and he that rejoiceth at another man's ruin, shall not be unpunished. 17:6. Children's children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers. 17:7. Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince. 17:8. The expectation of him that expecteth is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely. 17:9. He that concealeth a transgression, seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends. 17:10. A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool. 17:11. An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him. 17:12. It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly. 17:13. He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. 17:14. The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: and before he suffereth reproach, he forsaketh judgment. 17:15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God. 17:16. What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils. 17:17. He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress. 17:18. A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend. 17:19. He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin. 17:20. He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil. 17:21. A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool. 17:22. A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones. 17:23. The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment. 17:24. Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth. 17:25. A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him. 17:26. It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right. 17:27. He that setteth bounds to his words, is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit. 17:28. Even a fool, if he will hold his peace, shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding. Proverbs Chapter 18 18:1. He that hath a mind to depart from a friend, seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach. 18:2. A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart. 18:3. The wicked man, when he is come into the depths of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him. 18:4. Words from the mouth of a man are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream. 18:5. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment. 18:6. The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels. 18:7. The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul. 18:8. The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry. 18:9. He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works. 18:10. The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted. 18:11. The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about. 18:12. Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled. 18:13. He that answereth before he heareth, sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion. 18:14. The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear? 18:15. A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction. 18:16. A man's gift enlargeth his way, and maketh him room before princes. 18:17. The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him. 18:18. The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty. 18:19. A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities. 18:20. Of the fruit of a man's mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him. 18:21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof. 18:22. He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked. 18:23. The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly. 18:24. A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother. Proverbs Chapter 19 19:1. Better is the poor man, that walketh in his simplicity, than a rich man that is perverse in his lips and unwise. 19:2. Where there is no knowledge of the soul, there is no good: and he that is hasty with his feet shall stumble. 19:3. The folly of a man supplanteth his steps: and he fretteth in his mind against God. 19:4. Riches make many friends: but from the poor man, even they whom he had, depart. 19:5. A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall not escape. 19:6. Many honour the person of him that is mighty, and are friends of him that giveth gifts. 19:7. The brethren of the poor man hate him: moreover also his friends have departed far from him. He that followeth after words only, shall have nothing. 19:8. But he that possesseth a mind, loveth his own soul, and he that keepeth prudence, shall find good things. 19:9. A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall perish. 19:10. Delicacies are not seemly for a fool: nor for a servant to have rule over princes. 19:11. The learning of a man is known by patience: and his glory is to pass over wrongs. 19:12. As the roaring of a lion, so also is the anger of a king: and his cheerfulness as the dew upon the grass. 19:13. A foolish son is the grief of his father: and a wrangling wife is like a roof continually dropping through. 19:14. House and riches are given by parents: but a prudent wife is properly from the Lord. 19:15. Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. 19:16. He that keepeth the commandment, keepeth his own soul: but he that neglecteth his own way, shall die. 19:17. He that hath mercy on the poor, lendeth to the Lord: and he will repay him. 19:18. Chastise thy son, despair not: but to the killing of him set not thy soul. 19:19. He that is impatient, shall suffer damage: and when he shall take away, he shall add another thing. 19:20. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayst be wise in thy latter end. 19:21. There are many thoughts in the heart of a man: but the will of the Lord shall stand firm. 19:22. A needy man is merciful: and better is the poor than the lying man. 19:23. The fear of the Lord is unto life: and he shall abide in the fulness without being visited with evil. 19:24. The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth. 19:25. The wicked man being scourged, the fool shall be wiser: but if thou rebuke a wise man, he will understand discipline. 19:26. He that afflicteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is infamous and unhappy. 19:27. Cease not, O my son, to hear instruction, and be not ignorant of the words of knowledge. 19:28. An unjust witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity. 19:29. Judgments are prepared for scorners: and striking hammers for the bodies of fools. Proverbs Chapter 20 20:1. Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith, shall not be wise. 20:2. As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul. 20:3. It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches. 20:4. Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him. 20:5. Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out. 20:6. Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man? 20:7. The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children. 20:8. The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look. 20:9. Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin? 20:10. Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God. 20:11. By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right. 20:12. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both. 20:13. Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread. 20:14. It is naught, it is naught, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast. 20:15. There is gold and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel. 20:16. Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers. 20:17. The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. 20:18. Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments. 20:19. Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips. 20:20. He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness. 20:21. The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing. 20:22. Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord, and he will deliver thee. 20:23. Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good. 20:24. The steps of men are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way? 20:25. It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract. 20:26. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel. 20:27. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels. 20:28. Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency. 20:29. The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs. 20:30. The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly. Proverbs Chapter 21 21:1. As the divisions of waters, so the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever he will, he shall turn it. 21:2. Every way of a man seemeth right to himself: but the Lord weigheth the hearts. 21:3. To do mercy and judgment, pleaseth the Lord more than victims. 21:4. Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp of the wicked is sin. 21:5. The thoughts of the industrious always bring forth abundance: but every sluggard is always in want. 21:6. He that gathereth treasures by a lying tongue, is vain and foolish, and shall stumble upon the snares of death. 21:7. The robberies of the wicked shall be their downfall, because they would not do judgment. 21:8. The perverse way of a man is strange: but as for him that is pure, his work is right. 21:9. It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house. 21:10. The soul of the wicked desireth evil, he will not have pity on his neighbour. 21:11. When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: and if he follow the wise, he will receive knowledge. 21:12. The just considereth seriously the house of the wicked, that he may withdraw the wicked from evil. 21:13. He that stoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor, shall also cry himself, and shall not be heard. 21:14. A secret present quencheth anger: and a gift in the bosom, the greatest wrath. 21:15. It is joy to the just to do judgment: and dread to them that work iniquity. 21:16. A man that shall wander out of the way of doctrine, shall abide in the company of the giants. 21:17. He that loveth good cheer, shall be in want: he that loveth wine, and fat things, shall not be rich. 21:18. The wicked is delivered up for the just: and the unjust for the righteous. 21:19. It is better to dwell in a wilderness, than with a quarrelsome and passionate woman. 21:20. There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the just: and the foolish man shall spend it. 21:21. He that followeth justice and mercy, shall find life, justice, and glory. 21:22. The wise man hath scaled the city of the strong, and hath cast down the strength of the confidence thereof. 21:23. He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from distress. 21:24. The proud and the arrogant is called ignorant, who in anger worketh pride. 21:25. Desires kill the slothful: for his hands have refused to work at all. 21:26. He longeth and desireth all the day: but he that is just, will give, and will not cease. 21:27. The sacrifices of the wicked are abominable, because they are offered of wickedness. 21:28. A lying witness shall perish: an obedient man shall speak of victory. 21:29. The wicked man impudently hardeneth his face: but he that is righteous, correcteth his way. 21:30. There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel against the Lord. 21:31. The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but the Lord giveth safety. Proverbs Chapter 22 22:1. A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold. 22:2. The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both. 22:3. The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss. 22:4. The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life. 22:5. Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul, departeth far from them. 22:6. It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old, he will not depart from it. 22:7. The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth. 22:8. He that soweth iniquity, shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed. 22:9. He that is inclined to mercy, shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents, shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers. 22:10. Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease. 22:11. He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend. 22:12. The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown. 22:13. The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets. 22:14. The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it. 22:15. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away. 22:16. He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need. 22:17. Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine: 22:18. Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips: 22:19. That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day. 22:20. Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge: 22:21. That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee. 22:22. Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate: 22:23. Because the Lord will judge his cause: and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul. 22:24. Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man: 22:25. Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul. 22:26. Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts: 22:27. For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there that he should take the covering from thy bed? 22:28. Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set. 22:29. Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure. Proverbs Chapter 23 23:1. When thou shalt sit to eat with a prince, consider diligently what is set before thy face: 23:2. And put a knife to thy throat, if it be so that thou have thy soul in thy own power. 23:3. Be not desirous of his meats, in which is the bread of deceit. 23:4. Labour not to be rich: but set bounds to thy prudence. 23:5. Lift not up thy eyes to riches which thou canst not have: because they shall make themselves wings like those of an eagle, and shall fly towards heaven. 23:6. Eat not with an envious man, and desire not his meats: 23:7. Because, like a soothsayer, and diviner, he thinketh that which he knoweth not. Eat and drink, will he say to thee: and his mind is not with thee. 23:8. The meats which thou hadst eaten, thou shalt vomit up: and shalt loose thy beautiful words. 23:9. Speak not in the ears of fools: because they will despise the instruction of thy speech. 23:10. Touch not the bounds of little ones: and enter not into the field of the fatherless: 23:11. For their near kinsman is strong: and he will judge their cause against thee. 23:12. Let thy heart apply itself to instruction and thy ears to words of knowledge. 23:13. Withhold not correction from a child: for if thou strike him with the rod, he shall not die. 23:14. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from hell. 23:15. My son, if thy mind be wise, my heart shall rejoice with thee: 23:16. And my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips shall speak what is right. 23:17. Let not thy heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long: 23:18. Because thou shalt have hope in the latter end, and thy expectation shall not be taken away. 23:19. Hear thou, my son, and be wise: and guide thy mind in the way. 23:20. Be not in the feasts of great drinkers, nor in their revellings, who contribute flesh to eat: 23:21. Because they that give themselves to drinking, and that club together, shall be consumed: and drowsiness shall be clothed with rags. 23:22. Hearken to thy father, that begot thee: and despise not thy mother when she is old. 23:23. Buy truth, and do not sell wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. 23:24. The father of the just rejoiceth greatly: he that hath begotten a wise son, shall have joy in him. 23:25. Let thy father and thy mother be joyful, and let her rejoice that bore thee. 23:26. My son, give me thy heart: and let thy eyes keep my ways. 23:27. For a harlot is a deep ditch: and a strange woman is a narrow pit. 23:28. She lieth in wait in the way as a robber, and him whom she shall see unwary, she will kill. 23:29. Who hath woe? whose father hath woe? who hath contentions? who falls into pits? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 23:30. Surely they that pass their time in wine, and study to drink off their cups. 23:31. Look not upon the wine when it is yellow, when the colour thereof shineth in the glass: it goeth in pleasantly, 23:32. But in the end, it will bite like a snake, and will spread abroad poison like a basilisk. 23:33. Thy eyes shall behold strange women, and thy heart shall utter perverse things. 23:34. And thou shalt be as one sleeping in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot fast asleep when the stern is lost. 23:35. And thou shalt say: They have beaten me, but I was not sensible of pain: they drew me, and I felt not: when shall I awake and find wine again? Proverbs Chapter 24 24:1. Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them: 24:2. Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits. 24:3. By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened. 24:4. By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth. 24:5. A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant. 24:6. Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels. 24:7. Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he shall not open his mouth. 24:8. He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool. 24:9. The thought of a fool is sin: and the detractor is the abomination of men. 24:10. If thou lose hope, being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished. 24:11. Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death, forbear not to deliver. 24:12. If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to a man according to his works. 24:13. Eat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat. 24:14. So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish. 24:15. Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest. 24:16. For a just man shall fall seven times, and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil. 24:17. When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice: 24:18. Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. 24:19. Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly. 24:20. For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. 24:21. My son, fear the Lord, and the king: and have nothing to do with detractors. 24:22. For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both? 24:23. These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment. 24:24. They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them. 24:25. They that rebuke him shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them. 24:26. He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words. 24:27. Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house. 24:28. Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips. 24:29. Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work. 24:30. I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man: 24:31. And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down. 24:32. Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction. 24:33. Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest. 24:34. And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man. Proverbs Chapter 25 25:1. These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias, king of Juda, copied out. 25:2. It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech. 25:3. The heaven above and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. 25:4. Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel: 25:5. Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice. 25:6. Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men. 25:7. For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince. 25:8. The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend. 25:9. Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger: 25:10. Lest he insult over thee, when he hath heard it, and cease not to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver a man: keep these for thyself, lest thou fall under reproach. 25:11. To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver. 25:12. As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear. 25:13. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul. 25:14. As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfil his promises. 25:15. By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness. 25:16. Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up. 25:17. Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee. 25:18. A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow. 25:19. To trust in an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary foot, 25:20. And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man consumeth the heart. 25:21. If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink: 25:22. For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee. 25:23. The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue. 25:24. It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop: than with a brawling woman, and in a common house. 25:25. As cold water to a thirsty soul, so are good tidings from a far country. 25:26. A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot and a corrupted spring. 25:27. As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a searcher of majesty shall be overwhelmed by glory. Majesty. . .Viz., of God. For to search into that incomprehensible Majesty, and to pretend to sound the depths of the wisdom of God, is exposing our weak understanding to be blinded with an excess of light and glory, which it cannot comprehend. 25:28. As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking. Proverbs Chapter 26 26:1. As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool. 26:2. As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man. As a bird, etc. . .The meaning is, that a curse uttered without cause shall do no harm to the person that is cursed, but will return upon him that curseth, as whithersoever a bird flies, it returns to its own nest. 26:3. A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools. 26:4. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him. Answer not a fool, etc. . .Viz., so as to imitate him but only so as to reprove his folly. 26:5. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise. 26:6. He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity. 26:7. As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools. 26:8. As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool. 26:9. As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 26:10. Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger. 26:11. As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly. 26:12. Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him. 26:13. The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads. 26:14. As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. 26:15. The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth. 26:16. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences. 26:17. As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man's quarrel. 26:18. As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death. 26:19. So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest. 26:20. When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease. 26:21. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife. 26:22. The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly. 26:23. Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthern vessel adorned with silver dross. 26:24. An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit. 26:25. When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart. 26:26. He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly. 26:27. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him. 26:28. A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin. Proverbs Chapter 27 27:1. Boast not for to morrow, for thou knowest not what the day to come may bring forth. 27:2. Let another praise thee, and not thy own mouth: a stranger, and not thy own lips. 27:3. A stone is heavy, and sand weighty: but the anger of a fool is heavier than them both. 27:4. Anger hath no mercy: nor fury, when it breaketh forth: and who can bear the violence of one provoked? 27:5. Open rebuke is better than hidden love. 27:6. Better are the wounds of a friend, than the deceitful kisses of an enemy. 27:7. A soul that is full shall tread upon the honeycomb: and a soul that is hungry shall take even bitter for sweet. 27:8. As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that leaveth his place. 27:9. Ointment and perfumes rejoice the heart: and the good counsels of a friend are sweet to the soul. 27:10. Thy own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not: and go not into thy brother's house in the day of thy affliction. Better is a neighbour that is near than a brother afar off. 27:11. Study wisdom, my son, and make my heart joyful, that thou mayst give an answer to him that reproacheth. 27:12. The prudent man seeing evil hideth himself: little ones passing on have suffered losses. 27:13. Take away his garment that hath been surety for a stranger: and take from him a pledge for strangers. 27:14. He that blesseth his neighbour with a loud voice, rising in the night, shall be like to him that curseth. 27:15. Roofs dropping through in a cold day, and a contentious woman are alike. 27:16. He that retaineth her, is as he that would hold the wind, and shall call the oil of his right hand. 27:17. Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. 27:18. He that keepeth the fig tree, shall eat the fruit thereof: and he that is the keeper of his master, shall be glorified. 27:19. As the faces of them that look therein, shine in the water, so the hearts of men are laid open to the wise. 27:20. Hell and destruction are never filled: so the eyes of men are never satisfied. 27:21. As silver is tried in the fining-pot, and gold in the furnace: so a man is tried by the mouth of him that praiseth. The heart of the wicked seeketh after evils, but the righteous heart seeketh after knowledge. 27:22. Though thou shouldst bray a fool in the mortar, as when a pestle striketh upon sodden barley, his folly would not be taken from him. 27:23. Be diligent to know the countenance of thy cattle, and consider thy own flocks: 27:24. For thou shalt not always have power: but a crown shall be given to generation and generation. 27:25. The meadows are open, and the green herbs have appeared, and the hay is gathered out of the mountains. 27:26. Lambs are for thy clothing: and kids for the price of the field. 27:27. Let the milk of the goats be enough for thy food, and for the necessities of thy house, and for maintenance for thy handmaids. Proverbs Chapter 28 28:1. The wicked man fleeth, when no man pursueth: but the just, bold as a lion, shall be without dread. 28:2. For the sins of the land many are the princes thereof: and for the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, the life of the prince shall be prolonged. 28:3. A poor man that oppresseth the poor, is like a violent shower, which bringeth a famine. 28:4. They that forsake the law, praise the wicked man: they that keep it, are incensed against him. 28:5. Evil men think not on judgment: but they that seek after the Lord, take notice of all things. 28:6. Better is the poor man walking in his simplicity, than the rich in crooked ways. 28:7. He that keepeth the law, is a wise son: but he that feedeth gluttons, shameth his father. 28:8. He that heapeth together riches by usury and loan, gathereth them for him that will be bountiful to the poor. 28:9. He that turneth away his ears from hearing the law, his prayer shall be an abomination. 28:10. He that deceiveth the just in a wicked way, shall fall in his own destruction: and the upright shall possess his goods. 28:11. The rich man seemeth to himself wise: but the poor man that is prudent shall search him out. 28:12. In the joy of the just there is great glory: when the wicked reign, men are ruined. 28:13. He that hideth his sins, shall not prosper: but he that shall confess, and forsake them, shall obtain mercy. 28:14. Blessed is the man that is always fearful: but he that is hardened in mind shall fall into evil. 28:15. As a roaring lion, and a hungry bear, so is a wicked prince over the poor people. 28:16. A prince void of prudence shall oppress many by calumny: but he that hateth covetousness, shall prolong his days. 28:17. A man that doth violence to the blood of a person, if he flee even to the pit, no man will stay him. 28:18. He that walketh uprightly, shall be saved: he that is perverse in his ways, shall fall at once. 28:19. He that tilleth his ground, shall be filled with bread: but he that followeth idleness, shall be filled with poverty. 28:20. A faithful man shall be much praised: but he that maketh haste to be rich, shall not be innocent. 28:21. He that hath respect to a person in judgment, doth not well: such a man even for a morsel of bread forsaketh the truth. 28:22. A man that maketh haste to be rich, and envieth others, is ignorant that poverty shall come upon him. 28:23. He that rebuketh a man, shall afterward find favour with him, more than he that by a flattering tongue deceiveth him. 28:24. He that stealeth any thing from his father, or from his mother: and saith, This is no sin, is the partner of a murderer. 28:26. He that boasteth and puffeth up himself, stirreth up quarrels: but he that trusteth in the Lord, shall be healed. 28:26. He that trusteth in his own heart, is a fool: but he that walketh wisely, he shall be saved. 28:27. He that giveth to the poor shall not want: he that despiseth his entreaty, shall suffer indigence. 28:28. When the wicked rise up, men shall hide themselves: when they perish, the just shall be multiplied. Proverbs Chapter 29 29:1. The man that with a stiff neck despiseth him that reproveth him, shall suddenly be destroyed: and health shall not follow him. 29:2. When just men increase, the people shall rejoice: when the wicked shall bear rule, the people shall mourn. 29:3. A man that loveth wisdom, rejoiceth his father: but he that maintaineth harlots, shall squander away his substance. 29:4. A just king setteth up the land: a covetous man shall destroy it. 29:5. A man that speaketh to his friend with flattering and dissembling words, spreadeth a net for his feet. 29:6. A snare shall entangle the wicked man when he sinneth: and the just shall praise and rejoice. 29:7. The just taketh notice of the cause of the poor: the wicked is void of knowledge. 29:8. Corrupt men bring a city to ruin: but wise men turn away wrath. 29:9. If a wise man contend with a fool, whether he be angry, or laugh, he shall find no rest. 29:10. Bloodthirsty men hate the upright: but just men seek his soul. 29:11. A fool uttereth all his mind: a wise man deferreth, and keepeth it till afterwards. 29:12. A prince that gladly heareth lying words, hath all his servants wicked. 29:13. The poor man and the creditor have met one another: the Lord is the enlightener of them both. 29:14. The king that judgeth the poor in truth, his throne shall be established for ever. 29:15. The rod and reproof give wisdom: but the child that is left to his own will, bringeth his mother to shame. 29:16. When the wicked are multiplied, crimes shall be multiplied: but the just shall see their downfall. 29:17. Instruct thy son and he shall refresh thee, and shall give delight to thy soul. 29:18. When prophecy shall fail, the people shall be scattered abroad: but he that keepeth the law, is blessed. 29:19. A slave will not be corrected by words: because he understandeth what thou sayest, and will not answer. 29:20. Hast thou seen a man hasty to speak? folly is rather to be looked for, than his amendment. 29:21. He that nourisheth his servant delicately from his childhood, afterwards shall find him stubborn. 29:22. A passionate man provoketh quarrels: and he that is easily stirred up to wrath, shall be more prone to sin. 29:23. Humiliation followeth the proud: and glory shall uphold the humble of spirit. 29:24. He that is partaker with a thief, hateth his own soul: he heareth one putting him to his oath, and discovereth not. 29:25. He that feareth man shall quickly fall: he that trusteth in the Lord, shall be set on high. 29:26. Many seek the face of the prince: but the judgment of every one cometh forth from the Lord. 29:27. The just abhor a wicked man: and the wicked loathe them that are in the right way. The son that keepeth the word, shall be free from destruction. Proverbs Chapter 30 The wise man thinketh humbly of himself. His prayer and sentiments upon certain virtues and vices. 30:1. The words of Gatherer the son of Vomiter. The vision which the man spoke, with whom God is, and who being strengthened by God, abiding with him, said: Gatherer, etc. . .Or, as it is in the Latin, Congregans the son of Vomens. The Latin interpreter has given us in this place the signification of the Hebrew names, instead of the names themselves, which are in the Hebrew, Agur the son of Jakeh. But whether this Agur be the same person as Solomon, as many think, or a different person, whose doctrine was adopted by Solomon, and inserted among his parables or proverbs, is uncertain. 30:2. I am the most foolish of men, and the wisdom of men is not with me. 30:3. I have not learned wisdom, and have not known the science of saints. 30:4. Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? who hath held the wind in his hands? who hath bound up the waters together as in a garment? who hath raised up all the borders of the earth? what is his name, and what is the name of his son, if thou knowest? 30:5. Every word of God is fire tried: he is a buckler to them that hope in him. Is fire tried. . .That is, most pure, like gold purified by fire. 30:6. Add not any thing to his words, lest thou be reproved and found a liar: 30:7. Two things I have asked of thee, deny them not to me before I die. 30:8. Remove far from me vanity, and lying words. Give me neither beggary, nor riches: give me only the necessaries of life: 30:9. Lest perhaps being filled, I should be tempted to deny, and say: Who is the Lord? or being compelled by poverty, I should steal, and forswear the name of my God. 30:10. Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou fall. 30:11. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 30:12. A generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness. 30:13. A generation, whose eyes are lofty, and their eyelids lifted up on high. 30:14. A generation that for teeth hath swords, and grindeth with their jaw teeth, to devour the needy from off the earth, and the poor from among men. 30:15. The horseleech hath two daughters that say: Bring, bring. There are three things that never are satisfied, and the fourth never saith: It is enough. The horseleech. . .Concupiscence, which hath two daughters that are never satisfied, viz., lust and avarice. 30:16. Hell and the mouth of the womb, and the earth which is not satisfied with water: and the fire never saith: It is enough. 30:17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and that despiseth the labour of his mother in bearing him, let the ravens of the brooks pick it out, and the young eagles eat it. 30:18. Three things are hard to me, and the fourth I am utterly ignorant of. 30:19. The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man in youth. 30:20. Such also is the way of an adulterous woman, who eateth and wipeth her mouth, and saith: I have done no evil. 30:21. By three things the earth is disturbed, and the fourth it cannot bear. 30:22. By a slave when he reigneth: by a fool when be is filled with meat: 30:23. By an odious woman when she is married: and by a bondwoman when she is heir to her mistress. 30:24. There are four very little things of the earth, and they are wiser than the wise. 30:25. The ants, a feeble people, which provide themselves food in the harvest: 30:26. The rabbit, a weak people, which maketh its bed in the rock: 30:27. The locust hath no king, yet they all go out by their bands: 30:28. The stellio supporteth itself on hands, and dwelleth in kings' houses. The stellio. . .A kind of house lizard marked with spots like stars, from whence it has its name. 30:19. There are three things, which go well, and the fourth that walketh happily: 30:30. A lion, the strongest of beasts, who hath no fear of any thing he meeteth: 30:31. A cock girded about the loins: and a ram: and a king, whom none can resist. 30:32. There is that hath appeared a fool after he was lifted up on high: for if he had understood, he would have laid his hand upon his mouth. 30:33. And he that strongly squeezeth the paps to bring out milk, straineth out butter: and he that violently bloweth his nose, bringeth out blood: and he that provoketh wrath, bringeth forth strife. Proverbs Chapter 31 An exhortation to chastity, temperance, and works of mercy; with the praise of a wise woman. 31:1. The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him. Lamuel. . .This name signifies God with him, and is supposed to have been one of the names of Solomon. 31:2. What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows? 31:3. Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings. 31:4. Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth: 31:5. And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor. 31:6. Give strong drink to them that are sad; and wine to them that are grieved in mind: 31:7. Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more. 31:8. Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass. 31:9. Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor. 31:10. Who shall find a valiant woman? far, and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her. 31:11. The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils. 31:12. She will render him good, and not evil all the days of her life. 31:13. She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands. 31:14. She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar. 31:15. And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens. 31:16. She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard. 31:17. She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm. 31:18. She hath tasted, and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night. 31:19. She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle. 31:20. She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor. 31:21. She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments. 31:22. She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple, is her covering. 31:23. Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land. 31:24. She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite. The Chanaanite. . .The merchant, for Chanaanite, in Hebrew, signifies a merchant. 31:25. Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day. 31:26. She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue. 31:27. She hath looked well on the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle. 31:28. Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her. 31:29. Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all. 31:30. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. 31:31. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates. ECCLESIASTES This Book is called Ecclesiastes, or The Preacher, (in Hebrew, Coheleth,) because in it, Solomon, as an excellent preacher, setteth forth the vanity of the things of this world: to withdraw the hearts and affections of men from such empty toys. Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 The vanity of all temporal things. 1:1. The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem. 1:2. Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes: vanity of vanities, and all is vanity. 1:3. What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun? 1:4. One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth standeth for ever. 1:5. The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again, 1:6. Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to his circuits. 1:7. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea doth not overflow: unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again. 1:8. All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing. 1:9. What is it that hath been? the same thing that shall be. What is it that hath been done? the same that shall be done. 1:10. Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before us. 1:11. There is no remembrance of former things: nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end. 1:12. I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem, 1:13. And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation hath God given to the children of men, to be exercised therein. 1:14. I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit. 1:15. The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite. 1:16. I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned. 1:17. And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit, 1:18. Because in much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that addeth knowledge, addeth also labour. Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 The vanity of pleasures, riches, and worldly labours. 2:1. I said in my heart: I will go, and abound with delights, and enjoy good things. And I saw that this also was vanity. 2:2. Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly deceived? 2:3. I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life. 2:4. I made me great works, I built me houses, and planted vineyards, 2:5. I made gardens, and orchards, and set them with trees of all kinds, 2:6. And I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood of the young trees, 2:7. I got me menservants, and maidservants, and had a great family: and herds of oxen, and great flocks of sheep, above all that were before me in Jerusalem: 2:8. I heaped together for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of kings, and provinces: I made me singing men, and singing women, and the delights of the sons of men, cups and vessels to serve to pour out wine: 2:9. And I surpassed in riches all that were before me in Jerusalem: my wisdom also remained with me. 2:10. And whatsoever my eyes desired, I refused them not: and I withheld not my heart from enjoying every pleasure, and delighting itself in the things which I had prepared: and esteemed this my portion, to make use of my own labour. 2:11. And when I turned myself to all the works which my hands had wrought, and to the labours wherein I had laboured in vain, I saw in all things vanity, and vexation of mind, and that nothing was lasting under the sun. 2:12. I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is man, said I that he can follow the King his maker?) 2:13. And I saw that wisdom excelled folly, as much as light differeth from darkness. 2:14. The eyes of a wise man are in his head: the fool walketh in darkness: and I learned that they were to die both alike. 2:15. And I said in my heart: If the death of the fool and mine shall be one, what doth it avail me, that I have applied myself more to the study of wisdom? And speaking with my own mind, I perceived that this also was vanity. 2:16. For there shall be no remembrance of the wise no more than of the fool forever, and the times to come shall cover all things together with oblivion: the learned dieth in like manner as the unlearned. 2:17. And therefore I was weary of my life, when I saw that all things under the sun are evil, and all vanity and vexation of spirit. 2:18. Again I hated all my application wherewith I had earnestly laboured under the sun, being like to have an heir after me, 2:19. Whom I know not whether he will be a wise man or a fool, and he shall have rule over all my labours with which I have laboured and been solicitous: and is there anything so vain? 2:20. Wherefore I left off and my heart renounced labouring anymore under the sun. 2:21. For when a man laboureth in wisdom, and knowledge, and carefulness, he leaveth what he hath gotten to an idle man: so this also is vanity, and a great evil. 2:22. For what profit shall a man have of all his labour, and vexation of spirit, with which he hath been tormented under the sun? 2:23. All his days are full of sorrows and miseries, even in the night he doth not rest in mind: and is not this vanity? 2:24. Is it not better to eat and drink, and to shew his soul good things of his labours? and this is from the hand of God. 2:25. Who shall so feast and abound with delights as I? 2:26. God hath given to a man that is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he hath given vexation, and superfluous care, to heap up and to gather together, and to give it to him that hath pleased God: but this also is vanity, and a fruitless solicitude of the mind. Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 All human things are liable to perpetual changes. We are to rest on God's providence, and cast away fruitless cares. 3:1. All things have their season, and in their times all things pass under heaven. 3:2. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. 3:3. A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to destroy, and a time to build. 3:4. A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance. 3:5. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather. A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. 3:6. A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away. 3:7. A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak. 3:8. A time of love, and a time of hatred. A time of war, and a time of peace. 3:9. What hath man more of his labour? 3:10. I have seen the trouble, which God hath given the sons of men to be exercised in it. 3:11. He hath made all things good in their time, and hath delivered the world to their consideration, so that man cannot find out the work which God hath made from the beginning to the end. 3:12. And I have known that there was no better thing than to rejoice, and to do well in this life. 3:13. For every man that eateth and drinketh, and seeth good of his labour, this is the gift of God. 3:14. I have learned that all the works which God hath made, continue for ever: we cannot add any thing, nor take away from those things which God hath made that he may be feared. 3:15. That which hath been made, the same continueth: the things that shall be, have already been: and God restoreth that which is past. 3:16. I saw under the sun in the place of judgment wickedness, and in the place of justice iniquity. 3:17. And I said in my heart: God shall judge both the just and the wicked, and then shall be the time of every thing. 3:18. I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, that God would prove them, and shew them to be like beasts. 3:19. Therefore the death of man, and of beasts is one, and the condition of them both is equal: as man dieth, so they also die: all things breathe alike, and man hath nothing more than beast: all things are subject to vanity. Man hath nothing more, etc. . .Viz., as to the life of the body. 3:20. And all things go to one place: of earth they were made, and into earth they return together. 3:21. Who knoweth if the spirit of the children of Adam ascend upward, and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward? Who knoweth, etc. . .Viz., experimentally: since no one in this life can see a spirit. But as to the spirit of the beasts, which is merely animal, and become extinct by the death of the beast, who can tell the manner it acts so as to give life and motion, and by death to descend downward, that is, to be no more? 3:22. And I have found that nothing is better than for a man to rejoice in his work, and that this is his portion. For who shall bring him to know the things that shall be after him? Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 Other instances of human miseries. 4:1. I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of help from any. 4:2. And I praised the dead rather than the living: 4:3. And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that are done under the sun. 4:4. Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighbour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care. 4:5. The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying: 4:6. Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, and vexation of mind. 4:7. Considering I found also another vanity under the sun: 4:8. There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation. 4:9. It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society: 4:10. If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up. 4:11. And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed? 4:12. And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken. 4:13. Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter. 4:14. Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty. 4:15. I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the second young man, who shall rise up in his place. 4:16. The number of the people, of all that were before him is infinite: and they that shall come afterwards, shall not rejoice in him: but this also is vanity, and vexation of spirit. 4:17. Keep thy foot, when thou goest into the house of God, and draw nigh to hear. For much better is obedience, than the victims of fools, who know not what evil they do. Ecclesiastes Chapter 5 Caution in words. Vows are to be paid. Riches are often pernicious: the moderate use of them is the gift of God. 5:1. Speak not any thing rashly, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 5:2. Dreams follow many cares: and in many words shall be found folly. 5:3. If thou hast vowed any thing to God, defer not to pay it: for an unfaithful and foolish promise displeaseth him: but whatsoever thou hast vowed, pay it. 5:4. And it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to perform the things promised. 5:5. Give not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin: and say not before the angel: There is no providence: lest God be angry at thy words, and destroy all the works of thy hands. 5:6. Where there are many dreams, there are many vanities, and words without number: but do thou fear God. 5:7. If thou shalt see the oppressions of the poor, and violent judgments, and justice perverted in the province, wonder not at this matter: for he that is high hath another higher, and there are others still higher than these: 5:8. Moreover there is the king that reigneth over all the land subject to him. 5:9. A covetous man shall not be satisfied with money: and he that loveth riches shall reap no fruit from them: so this also is vanity. 5:10. Where there are great riches, there are also many to eat them. And what doth it profit the owner, but that he seeth the riches with his eyes? 5:11. Sleep is sweet to a labouring man, whether he eat little or much: but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 5:12. There is also another grievous evil, which I have seen under the sun: riches kept to the hurt of the owner. 5:13. For they are lost with very great affliction: he hath begotten a son, who shall be in extremity of want. 5:14. As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, so shall he return, and shall take nothing away with him of his labour. 5:15. A most deplorable evil: as he came, so shall he return. What then doth it profit him that he hath laboured for the wind? 5:16. All the days of his life he eateth in darkness, and in many cares, and in misery, and sorrow. 5:17. This therefore hath seemed good to me, that a man should eat and drink, and enjoy the fruit of his labour, wherewith he hath laboured under the sun, all the days of his life, which God hath given him: and this is his portion. 5:18. And every man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to enjoy his portion, and to rejoice of his labour: this is the gift of God. 5:19. For he shall not much remember the days of his life, because God entertaineth his heart with delight. Ecclesiastes Chapter 6 The misery of the covetous man. 6:1. There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and that frequent among men: 6:2. A man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and honour, and his soul wanteth nothing of all that he desireth: yet God doth not give him power to eat thereof, but a stranger shall eat it up. This is vanity and a great misery. 6:3. If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, and attain to a great age, and his soul make no use of the goods of his substance, and he be without burial: of this man I pronounce, that the untimely born is better than he. 6:4. For he came in vain, and goeth to darkness, and his name shall be wholly forgotten. 6:5. He hath not seen the sun, nor known the distance of good and evil: 6:6. Although he lived two thousand years, and hath not enjoyed good things: do not all make haste to one place? 6:7. All the labour of man is for his mouth, but his soul shall not be filled. 6:8. What hath the wise man more than the fool? and what the poor man, but to go thither, where there is life? 6:9. Better it is to see what thou mayst desire, than to desire that which thou canst not know. But this also is vanity, and presumption of spirit. 6:10. He that shall be, his name is already called: and it is known, that he is a man, and cannot contend in judgment with him that is stronger than himself. 6:11. There are many words that have much vanity in disputing. Ecclesiastes Chapter 7 Prescriptions against worldly vanities: mortification, patience, and seeking wisdom. 7:1. What needeth a man to seek things that are above him, whereas he knoweth not what is profitable for him in his life, in all the days of his pilgrimage, and the time that passeth like a shadow? Or who can tell him what shall be after him under the sun? 7:2. A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one's birth. 7:3. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: for in that we are put in mind of the end of all, and the living thinketh what is to come. 7:4. Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected. Anger. . .That is, correction, or just wrath and zeal against evil. 7:5. The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth. 7:6. It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools. 7:7. For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity. 7:8. Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart. 7:9. Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous. 7:10. Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool. 7:11. Say not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were better than they are now? for this manner of question is foolish. 7:12. Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun. 7:13. For as wisdom is a defence, so money is a defence: but learning and wisdom excel in this, that they give life to him that possesseth them. 7:14. Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised. 7:15. In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand of the evil day: for God hath made both the one and the other, that man may not find against him any just complaint.
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