22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

29 Devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. 32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD; but his secret is with the righteous.

33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

34 Surely he scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

35 The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Proverbs 8.

THE INVITATION OF WISDOM.

OTH not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her

DOTH Do voice?

2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors:

4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. 5 O ye simple, understand wisdom; and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

II For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding; I have strength.

15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

18 Riches and honor are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment;

21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;

26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there; when he set a compass upon the face of the depth;

28 When he established the clouds above; when he strengthened the fountains of the deep;

29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment; when he appointed the foundations of the earth;

30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children; for blessed are they that keep my ways.

33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD.

36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.

Proverbs 12.

THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED.

WHOSE

7HOSO loveth instruction loveth knowledge; but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

2 A good man obtaineth favor of the LORD; but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

3 A man shall not be established by wickedness; but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

4 A virtuous women is a crown to her husband; but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

5 The thoughts of the righteous are right; but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood; but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not; but the house of the righteous shall stand.

8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom; but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.

10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

II He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men; but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips; but the just shall come out of trouble.

14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth; and the recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

16 A fool's wrath is presently known; but a prudent man covereth shame.

17 He that speaketh truth showeth forth righteousness; but a false witness deceit.

18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health.

19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil; but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

21 There shall no evil happen to the just; but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD; but they that deal truly are his delight.

23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge; but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; but the slothful shall be under tribute.

25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop; but a good word maketh it glad.

26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor; but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting; but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

CRY

Isaiah 58.

TRUE AND FALSE RELIGION.

*RY aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God; they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.