20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 16 2 A wise son maketh a glad father: Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: But in the multitude of counsellors they are established. That he may depart from hell beneath. The LORD will destroy the house of the proud : But he will establish the border of the widow. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house : The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. But he heareth the prayer of the righteous. The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: The ear that heareth the reproof of life He that refuseth 4 instruction despiseth his own soul: The 7 preparations of the heart in man, And the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; The LORD hath made all things for himself: Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: And by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Than great revenues without right. But the LORD weigheth the spirits. 3 8 Commit thy works unto the LORD, And thy thoughts shall be established. A man's heart deviseth his way: But the LORD directeth his steps. 10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: His mouth transgresseth not in judgment. A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: 11 All the weights of the bag are his work. It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: For the throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right. The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: But a wise man will pacify it. In the light of the king's countenance is life; And his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain. 1 Heb. void of heart. 2 Heb. in his season. 3 Heb. words of pleasantness. 4 Or, correction. 5 Or, obcyeth. 6 Heb. possesseth an heart. 8 Heb. Roll. 9 Heb. held innocent. 10 Heb. Divination. 11 Heb. all the stones. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 17 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold? And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver? Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, 1 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good : The wise in heart shall be called prudent: And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: The heart of the wise 2 teacheth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, 5 An ungodly man diggeth up evil : And a whisperer separateth chief friends. A violent man enticeth his neighbour, The hoary head is a crown of glory, If it be found in the way of righteousness. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; But the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than an house full of 7 sacrifices with strife. 2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, 3 And shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: But the LORD trieth the hearts. 4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; 5 6 And a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: And he that is glad at calamities shall not be 8 unpunished. And the glory of children are their fathers. 7 9 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: 8 9 10 Much less do 10 lying lips a prince. A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: He that covereth a transgression 12 seeketh love; But he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. Than a hundred stripes into a fool. 1 Or, He that understandeth a matter. 3 Heb. The soul of him that laboureth. 4 Heb. boweth unto him. 5 Heb. A man of Belial. 6 Heb. sendeth forth. 7 Or, good cheer. 11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, A friend loveth at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. A man void of ' understanding striketh hands, A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; And bitterness to her that bare him. He that hath knowledge spareth his words: And a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. 5 Through desire a man, having separated himself, Seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. A fool hath no delight in understanding, But that his heart may discover itself. When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, And with ignominy reproach. The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, And the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. And his lips are the snare of his soul. 8 9 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, To overthrow the righteous in judgment. A fool's lips enter into contention, 10 11 The words of a 6 talebearer are 7 as wounds, And they go down into the 8 innermost parts of the belly. Is brother to him that is a great waster. The name of the LORD is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And as an high wall in his own conceit. 1 Heb. heart. 2 Heb. The froward of heart. 3 Heb. to a medicine. 4 Or, a cool spirit. 5 Or, He that separateth himself seek- 6 Or, whisperer. 7 Or, like as when men are wounded. 8 Heb. chambers. 9 Heb. is set alaft. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, 1 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; And parteth between the mighty. A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city : 20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; 22 23 24 And obtaineth favour of the LORD. The poor useth intreaties; But the rich answereth roughly. A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: 19 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; The foolishness of man perverteth his way: Wealth maketh many friends; But the poor is separated from his neighbour. Many will intreat the favour of the prince: How much more do his friends go far from him? He pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. He that keepeth understanding shall find good. And he that speaketh lies shall perish. Delight is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes. A foolish son is the calamity of his father: And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. And a prudent wife is from the LORD. Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And an idle soul shall suffer hunger. He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; 1 Heb. returneth a word. 3 Heb. a man of gifts. 5 Or, prudence. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 20 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; And let not thy soul spare 2 for his crying. A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man's heart; Nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. And a poor man is better than a liar. The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. Is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. Cease, my son, to hear the instruction That causeth to err from the words of knowledge. And stripes for the back of fools. Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: Whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the 6 cold; But a man of understanding will draw it out. Most men will proclaim every one his own 7 goodness: The just man walketh in his integrity: His children are blessed after him. A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 8 Divers weights, and divers measures, Both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. The LORD hath made even both of them. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. |