Apocrypha. Chap.

hath power to kill; so shalt thou not doubt the fear of death; and if thoi come unto him, make no fault, left he take away thy life presents: remember that thou goest in the midst of snares, and that thou walked upon the battlements of the city.

14 As near as thou canst, guess at thy neighbour, and consult with the wife.

i j Let thy talk be with the wife, and • all thy communication in the law of the most High.

i<$ And let just men eat and drink with thee; and let thy glorying be in the fear of the Lord.

17 For the hand of the artificer the work (hall be commended: and the wife ruler of the people for his speech.

18 A man of an ill tongue is dangerous in his city; and he that is rash in his talk shall be hated.

CHAP. X. I Th; commodities of a wife ruler. 7 7h; jnconvtitiencei of pride, injustice, and tovttottfnefi.

A Wise judge will instruct his people; and the gorernment of a prudent man is well ordered.

4 A« the judge of the people is himself, so are his officers; and what manner of man the ruler of the city is, such are all they that dwell fne'rein.

3 An unwise king destroyeth his people: but through the prudence of them which are in authority the city (hail be inhabited;

e, The power of the earth is in the hand of ^he Lord, and in due time he will set over it one that is profitable.

5 la the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe sha'l he lay his honour.

6 Bear not hatred to thy neighbonr for every wrong; and do nothiog at all by injurious practices.

7 \ Pride is hateful before Cod and man: and by both doth one commit iniquity.

8 Bec-mse of unrighteous dealings, injuries and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to another.

9 Why is earth and ashes progd? There is not a more wicked ti^ine than a-covetous! man : for such xi one sctteth his o*n foul to sale; because while he Jiveth he calteth away his bowels.

to The physician cuiteth oil a long disease; and he that is to-day a king to morrow shall die..

11 Forwhenamanisdead, he shall infceritcreeping things,beasts, and worms.

*• 'Jtp%cr)fka.

i» The beginning of pride is vhea one dtparteth from God, and huj heart is turned away from his Mi'krr.

13 For pride is the beginning of fio* and he that hath rt (hall pour out abomination : and therefore the Lord brought upon them -strange calamity and overthrew them utterly.

14 The Lord hath cast down the thrones of prond princes, and set uptbc meek in their stead.

15 The Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, aud planted the lowly in their place.

16 The Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.

17 He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made their memorial to cease from the earth.

iS Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that axe born of a woman.

19 They that fear the Lord are a sure seed, and they that love him an honourable plant: they that regard not the law are a dishonourable seed; they that transgress the commandments are a deceivableseed.

ao Ampng brethren, he that is chief is honourable; so are they that fear the Lord in his eyes.

4i The fear of the Lord goeth Ixfore the obtaining of authority: but roughr ness and pride is the losing thereof, ii Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the tear of the Lord.

«3 It is-not meet to despise the poor man that hath understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.

94 Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there none of them greater than he that feaSeth the Lord.

»5 Unto the servant that is wife shall they that are free do service: and he that bath knowledge will not grudge when he is reformed,

16 Be not otherwise in doing thv business and boast not thyself in the'time of thy distress.

1,7"Better is hp .that laboureth and .ibomideth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, aud .<a'it<rth bread

18 My Ion, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to she dignity tnereof.

19 Who will justify him that linnet h afAinst his own foul? and who v.i{\ honour him that uilhonoLrctu hi. own lifer

30 The poor m*n is honouted for ht»

mi,

J/ecrjpAa. ECCLES

skill, and the rich man is honoured for his riches.

31 He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches i and he that 4s dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty I

CHAP. XI. 4 We may not vaunt, nor set forth ourserves, 8 nor answer rajhly, 10 nor meddle •with many matter/.

Wisdom lirteth up the head of him' that is of low degree, and make t h him to sit among great men.

a Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.

3 The bee it little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of sweet things.

4 \ Boast not of thy clothing and raiment, and exalt not thyself in the day of honour: for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works among men are hidden.

5 Many kings have fat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of, hath worn the crown.

6 Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable delivered into other men's hands.

7 Blame not before thou hast examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.

8 U Answer not before thou hast heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.

9 Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; aud sit not in judgement with sinners.

10 T My son, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle much, thou shalt not be innocent; and if thou follow after, thou shalt not obtain, neither flialt thou escape by fleeing.

11 There is one that laboureth and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind.

■ 1* Again, there is another that is flow, and bath need of help, wanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord looked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate,

1 j And lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw it marvelled at him.

14 Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord.

15 Wisdom, knowledge, and under-, standing of the law, are of the Lord: love, and the way of good works, are from him.

IASTICUS Attcryrhc.

16 Error and darkness had their beginning together with sinners: and evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.

17 The gift of the Lord remaineth with the godly, and his favour bringteh prosperity for ever.

18 There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward:

19 Whereas he faith, I hare found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and jet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, ar.d die.

ao Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein,' and wax old in thy work.

ai Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the light of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.

31 The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing to flourish.

a3 Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things shall I have hereafters

a4 Again, fay not, I have enough, and possess many tlr.ngs, and what evil can come to me hereafter?

a 5 In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulnesiof affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.

a6 For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.

a 7 The affliction of an hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds (hall be discovered.

a8 Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in hi* children.

39 Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man hath many trains.

30 Like as a partridge taken [and kept] in a cage, so is the heart ot the proud; and like as a spy, watcheth he tor thy fall:

31 For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.

3 a Of a spark of fire a heap of coaU is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for blood.

33 Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness; left he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.

34 Receive Apocrypha. Chap

34 Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee "out of thine own.

CHAP. XII.

a Be not liberal to the ungodly. 10 Trust

not thine enemy, nor the wicked.

WHEN thou wilt do good, know to whom thou doest it: so snalt thou be thanked for thy benefits.

% \ Do good to the godly man, and thou (halt find a recompence; and if not from him, yet from the most High.

3 There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil: nor to him that giveth no alms.

4 Give to the godly man, and help not a finneT.

5 Do well unto him that is lowly, but give not to the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not unto him, lest he overmaster thee thereby: for [elie] thou shalt receive twice as mucn evil for all the good thou shalt have done unto him.

6 For the most High hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance unto the ungodly, and keepeth them against the mighty day of their punishment.

7 Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.

8 A friend cannot be known in pro"sperity: and an enemy cannot be hidden

in adversity.

'9 In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in his adversity even a friend will depart.

io % Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rufteth, so is his wickedness.

nThough he humble himself,and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him, and thou shalt be unto him as if thou hadst wiped a lookinpglass, and thou shalt know that his rust hath not been altogether wiped away.

n Set him not by thee, lest, when he hathoverthrown thee, be stand up in thy place; neither let him lit at thy right hand, lest he seek to take thy seat, and thou at the last remember my words, and be pricked therewith.

13 Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such as come nigh wild beasts?

14 So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his sins, who will pity?

15 For a while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he will not

tarry. .

16 An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he imagineth how to throw thee into a pit: he will

xiii. Apocrypha.

weep with his eye*, but if he find opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.

17 If adversity come upon thee, thou (halt find him there first; and though he pretend to help thee, yet shall be undermine thee.

18 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change hit countenance.

CHAP. XIII. I Keep net company with the proud, or a mightier than thyself. 15 Like -will to like, &e.

HE that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith, and he that hath fellowship with a proud man shall be like unto him.

. a Burden not thyself above thy power, while thou livtst; and have no fellowship with one that is mightier and richer than thyself: for how agree the kettle and the earthen pot together? for if the one be smitten against the other, it shall be broken.

3 The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he threatenetb withal: the poor is wronged, and he must intreat also.

4 If thou be for his profit, he will use thee: hut if thou have nothing, he will forsake thee.

5 If thou have any thing, he will live with thee; yea, he will make thee bare, and will not be sorry for it.

6 If he have need of thee, he will deceive thee, and smile upon thee, and put thee in hope ; he will speak thee fair, and say, What wantest thou?

7 And he will shame thee by his meats, until he have drawn thee dry twice or thrice, and at the last he will' laugh thee to scorn: afterward, when he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and (hake his head at thee.

8 Beware tbat thou be not deceived, and brought down in thyjollity.

9 If thou be invited of a mighty man, withdraw thyself, and so much the more will he invite thee.

10 Press thou not upon him, lest thou be put back; stand not far off, lest thou be forgotten.

11 Affect not to be made equal unto him in talk, and beiiee not tiis many words: for with much communication will he tempt thee, and smiling upon thee will get out thy secrets:

11 But cruelly he will lay up thy words, and will not spare todothee hurt, and to-put tbee in prison.

13 Observe, and take good heed, for thou walkcst in peril ot thy overthrow

her shelter, and (hall lodge under her branches.

»7 By her he shall be covered from heat, and in her glory shall he dwell.

CHAP. XV.

% fPisfam ttnbracsth these that star Sod:

,7 the •wicked Jhall not get her.

HE that feareth the Lord will do good; and he that hath the knowledge of the law shall obtain her.

a t And as a mother (hall she meet him, and receive him as a wife married of a virgin.

3 With the bread of understanding shall (lie feed him, aud give him the water of wisdom to drink.

4 He shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be moved; and shall rely upon her, and shall not be confounded.

5 She shall exalt him above his neighbours, and in the midst of the congregation shall she open his mouth.

6 He (hall find joy and a crown of gladness, and she shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.

7 If But foolish men shall not attain unto her, and sinners (hall not fee her.

8 For she is far from pride, and men that are liars cannot remember her.

9 Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not sent him of the Lord.

io For praise shall be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper it.

ir Say not thou, It is thiough the Lord that I fell away: for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth.

u Say not thou, He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of the sinful man.

13 The Lord hateth all abomination; and they that fear God love it not.

14 He himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his. coiinse!;

>5 If thou wiit, to keep the commnndmtnts, and to perform acceptable faithfulness.

16 He hath set fire and water before thee: stretch forth thy hand unto whether thou wilt.

17 Before man is life and death; and whether him liketh shall be given him.

18 For the wisdom of the Lord is great, and he is mighty in power, and beholdeth all things:

19 And his eyes are upon them that fear him, and he knoweth every work of man.

10 He ha'.h commanded no man to do wickedly, neither hath he given pr.y man licence to sin.

CHAP. XVI.

I // // better to have none than many lewd children. 10 Gad's •marks are unsearchable.

DESIRE not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons.

I Though they multiply, rejoice not in them, except the fear of the Lord be with them.

3 Trust not thou in their life, neither respect their multitude: for one that is just is better than a thousand; and better it is to die without children, than to have them that are ungodly.

4 For by one that hath understanding, (hall the city be replenished: but the kindred of the wicked shall speedily become desolate.

5 Many such things have I seen with mine eyes, and mine c?.r hath heard greater things than these.

6 In the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire be kindled; and in a rebellions nation wrath is set on fire.

7 He was not pacified toward the ol'd giants, who fell away in the strength of their foolishness.

8 Neither spared he the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for their pride.

9 He pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in their sins:

10 Nor the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts.

II And if there be one stiffnecked among the people, it is marvel if he' escape unpunished: for mercy and wrath are with him; he is miphty to forgive, and to pour out displeasure.

ia As his mercy is great, so is his correction also: he judgeth a man according to his works.

13 The sinner shall not escape with his spoils: and the patience of the godly shall not be frustrate.

14 Make way for every work of mercy: for every man shall find according to his work's.

15 The Lord hardened Pharaoh, that he should not know him, that his powerful works might be known to the world.

16 His mercy is manifest to every creature; and he hath separated his light from the darkness with an adamant

17 Say not thou, I will hide myself from the Lord: shall any remember me from above? I (hall not be remembered among so majiy people: for what is mv

f'G soul