of fools, fluggards, &c.

As

tool.

S fnow in fummer and as rain in harveit, fo honour is not feemly for a

2 As the bird by wandering, as the fwallow by flying, fo the curfe caufclefs fhall not

come.

3. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the afs, and a rod for the fool's back.

4 Anfwer not a tool according to his folly, lest thou alfo be like unto him."

S Anfwer a fool according to his folly, left he be wife in his own conceit.

6 He that fendeth a meage by the hand of a fool cutteth oft the teet, and drinketh damage.

7 The legs of the lame are not equal: fo is parable in the mouth of fools.

8 As he that bindeth a stone in a fling, fo is he that giveth honour to a fool.

9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, fo is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10 The great God, that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth tranfgreffors.

11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, fo a fool returneth to his folly.

12 Seeft thou a man wife in his own conceit? there is more hope of a tool than of him. 13 The flothrul man faith, There is a lion in the way; a lion in the treets.

14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, fo doth the flothial upon his bed.

15 The flothtul hideth his hand in his bofom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16 The fluggard is wifer in his own conceit than feven men that can render a reafon.

17 He that paffeth by, and meddleth with Atrite belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As a mad man, who cafteth firebrands, arrows, and death;

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and faith, Am not I in fport?

20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out fo where there is no talebearer, the frite ceafeth.

21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; to is a contentious man to kindle Arize.

22 The words of a talebearer are as Wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with filver drofs.

24 He that hateth diffembleth with his tips, and layeth up deceit within him;

25 When he fpeaketh tair, believe him not: for there are feven abominations in his heart. 26 Whofe hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness fhall be thewed before the whole congregation.

27 Whoto diggeth a pit thall fall therein : and he that rolleth a tone, it will return upon him.

28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth work

eth ruin.

CHA P. XXVII.

Of true love, &c.

2 Let another man praife thee, and not thine own mouth; a ftranger and not thine own lips.

3 Aftone is heavy, and the fand weighty; but a tool's wrath is heavier than them both. 4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to fland before envy?

5 Open rebuke is better than fecret love. 6 Faithsul are the wounds of a friend; but the kies or an enemy are deceitful.

7 The full foul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry foul every bitter thing is fweet.

8 As a bird that wandereth from her neft, fo is a man that wandereth from his place.

9 Ointment and pertume rejoice the heart: fo doth the fweetnefs of a nian's friend by hearty counfel.

10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forfake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neigh bour that is near than a brocher tar off.

11 My fon, be wife, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

12 A prudent mar forefeeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the fimple pafs on and are punished.

13 Take his garment that is furety for a flanger, and take a pledge of him for a ftrange woman.

14 He that, bleffeth his friend with a loud voice, rifing early in the morning, it shall be counted a curfe to him.

15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

16 Whofoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; fo a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoto keepeth the fig tree thall eat the :ruit thereof: fo he that waiteth or his mafter shall be honoured.

19 As in water face anf wereth to face, fo the heart of man to man.

20 Hell and deftruction are never full; fo the eyes of nan are never satisfied.

21 As the fining pot for filver, and the fur nace for gold: fo is a man to his praife.

22 Though thou thouldeft bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a peftic, yet will not his foolishnets depart from him.

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

24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grafs fheweth itfelt, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field:

27 And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy tood, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens. CHAP. XXVIII. General obfervations of impiety and religious integrity.

whare bold as a HE wicked fee when no man purfueth:

THE

3 A poor man that oppreffeth the poor is like a fweeping rain which leaveth no food. 4 They that forfake the law praife the wicked: but fuch as keep the law contend with them.

publick government.

СНАР. XXIX.

Obfervations of publick government, 15 and of private. 22 of anger, pride, thievery, cowardice, and corruption.

his father.

8 He that by ufury and unjust gain increafeth his fubitance, he thall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall he abomination. 10 Whofo causeth the righteous to go attray in an evil way, he fhall fall himself into his own pit but the upright shall have good things in poffethon.

The rich man is wife in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding fearcheth him out.

12 Wher, righteous men do rejoice there is great glory: but when the wicked rife a man is hidden.

13 He that covereth his fins fhall not profper but whofo confeffeth and forfaketh them fhall have mercy.

14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart fhall fall into mifchief.

15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; Jo is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

16 The prince that wanteth understanding is alfo a great oppreffor: but he that hateth covetournefs fhail prolong bis days.

17 A man that doeth violence to the blood of any perfon fhall flee to the pit; let no man ftay him.

18 Whofo walketh uprightly shall be faved: but he that is perverfe in his ways fhall fall

at once.

19 He that tilleth his land fhall have plenty of bread but he that followeth after vain perfons thall have poverty enough.

20 A faithful man thall abound with bieffings: but he that maketh hafte to be rich thall not be innocent.

21 To have refpect of perfons is not good: for, for a piece of bread that man will tranf. grefs.

22 He that hafteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and confidereth not that poverty fhall come upon him.

23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards fhall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

24 Whofo robbeth his fat:er or his mother and faith, It is no tranfgreflion; the fame is the companion of a deftroyer.

25 He that is of a proud heart ftirreth up ftrife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

26 He that trufteth in his own heart is a fool but whofo walketh wifely, he shall be delivered.

27 He that giveth unto the poor fhall not lack but he that hideth his eyes fhall have many a curfe.

28 When the wicked rife, men hide themfelves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

bis neck, thall fuddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: bur when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

3 Whofo loveth wifdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots pendeth is fubitance.

4 The king by judgment establisheth the land; but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

5 A man that flattereth his neighbour fpreadeth a net for his reet.

In the tranfgreftion of an evil man there is a fnare: but the righteous doth fing and rejoice.

7 The righteous confidereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

8 Scornful men bring a city into a fare: but wife men turn away wrath.

9 If a wife man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no reit."

10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the juft feek his foul.

II A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wife man keepeth it in till afterwards.

12 It à ruler hearken to lies, all his fervants are wicked.

13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.

14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne thall be established for ever. 15 The rod and reproof give wifdom: but a child left to himfelf bringeth his mother to fhame.

16 When the wicked are multiplied, tranfgreffion increaseth: but the righteous fhall fee their tall.

17 Correct thy fon, and he hall give thee reft; yea, he thall give delight unto thy foul. 18 Where there is no vifion, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy

is he.

21 He that delicately bringeth up his fervant from a child, fhall have him become his fon at the length.

22 An angry man firreth up ftrite, and a furious man aboundeth in tranfgreifion.

23 A man's pride thall bring him low: but honour thall uphold the humble in fpirit. 24 Whofo is partner with a thief hateth his own foul: he heareth curfing, and bewrayeth it not.

25 The fear of man bringeth a fnare: but whofo putteth his truft in the LORD thall be fafe.

26 Many feek the rider's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

27 An unjuft man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abo mination to the wicked.

T

CHAP.

4gur's confession and prayer.

CHAP. XXX.

1 Agur's confession of his faith; q the_two points of bis prayer. 10 The meanest are not to be wronged. 11 Four wicked gene vations. 15 Four things infatiable. 17 Parents are not ta he despised. 18 Four things bard to bek: own, 21 Four things intolerable. 24 Four things exceeding wife. 29 Four things flately. 32 Wrath is to be prevented. THE HE words of Agur the fon of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man fpake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal.

2 surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. 3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the owledge of the holy.

4 Who hath afcended up into heaven, or defcended? who hath gathered the wind in his fits who hath bound the waters in a garment who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his fon's name, if thou canst tell?

s Every word of God is pure: he is a fhield unto them that put their truit in him.

6 Add thou not unto his words, left he re. prove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Two things have I required of thee: deny

me them not before I die."

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; tced me with tood convenient tor me :

9 Left I be full, and deny thee, and lay, Who is the LORD or left I be poor, and fleal, and take the name of my God in vain. 10 Accufe not a fervant unto his matter, left he curfe thee, and thou be found guilty. 11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not blefs their mother.

12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed trom their filthinefs.

13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are litted up.

14 There is a generation, whofe teeth are as fwords, and their jawteeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

15 The horfeleach hath two daughters, cry. ing, Give, give. There are three things that are never fatisfied, yea tour things fay not, It is enough:

16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that faith not, It is enough.

17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and defpifeth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles thall eat it."

18 There be three things whichare too won derful for me, yea, tour which I know not.

19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a ferpent upon a rock; the way or a ship in the midt of the fea; and the way of a man with a maid.

20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; the eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and faith, I have done no wickedness.

21 For three things the earth is disquicted, and for tour which it cannot bear :

22 For a fervant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat.

23 Foranodious woman when the is married; and an haruimaid that is heir to her mittreis. 24 There be rour things which are little up on the earth, but they are exceeding wife:

Lemuel's leffan

25 The ants are a people not ftrong, yet they prepare their meat in the fummer, 26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houfes in the rocks; 27 The locuits have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

28 The fpider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings palaces.

29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

30 A lion, which is frongest among beafts, and turneth not away for any;

31 A greyhound; an he goat alfo; and a king, again whom there is no rising up.

32 If thou hait done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

33 Surcly the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nofe bringeth forth blood: fo the forcing of wrath bringeth forth ftrife.

CHAP. XXXI.

Lemuel's lesson of chajiity and temperance. 6 The afficied are to be comforted and defended. 10 The praise and properties of a good wife.

that his mother taught him.

HE words of king Lemuel, the prophecy

2 What, my fon and what, the son of my womb? and what, the fon of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

4 It is not tor kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes ftrong drink;

5 Left they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that be of heavy hearts.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his mifery no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all fuch as are appointed to deftruction.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

10 Who can find a virtuous woman! for her price is tar above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth fafely truft in her, fo that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her lite.

13 She feeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchants' fhips, the bring. eth her tood from afar.

15 She rifeth aito while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household and a portion to her maidens.

16 She confidereth a field, and buyeth it: with the truit of her hand the planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with ftrength, and Arengtheneth her arms,

18 She perceivech that her merchandise is good: her can le goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 She trercheth, out her hand to the poor; yea, the reacheth torch her hands to the needy.

at She is not atraid of the fnow for her household: for all her household are clothed with featlet.

The vanity of worldly things.

One event to all.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he hitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She maketh fine linen, and felleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 strength and honour are her clothing; and the fhal! rejoice in time to come.

26 She openéth her mouth with wifdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her

28 Her children arise up, and call her bleff. ed; her husband alfo, and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellent them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain : but a woman that teareth the LORD, the thall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gares.

HE words of the Preacher the fon of David king of Jerufalem.

18 For in much wifdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increase.h forrow. CHAP. II.

1 The vanity of human courses in the works of pleajure. 12 Though the wife he better than the fool, yet both have one event. 18 The vanity of human labour, in leaving it they

know not to whom.

vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he takech under the fun?

4¶ One generation paiseth away, and anther generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

5 The fan alfo arifeth, and the fun goeth down, and hafteth to his place where hearofe. 6 The wind goeth toward the fouth, and turneth about unto the north: it whirleth about continually; and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7 Ail the rivers run into the fea; yet the fea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8 All things are full of labour; man can not utter it: the eye is not fatisfied with feeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9The thing that hath been, it is that which fhall be; and that which is done, is that which fhall be done, and there is no new thing under the fun.

10 Is there any thing whereof it may be faid, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things, neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that fhall come after.

121 the Preacher was king over Ifrael in Jerufalem:

13 And I gave my heart to feek and fearch out by wildom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this fore travail hath God given to the fons of man, to be exercised therewith.

14 I have feen all the works that are done under the fun; and, behold, all is yenity and vexation of fpirit.

Is That which is crooked cannot be made ftraight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

16 I communed with mine own heart, faying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wifdom than all they that have been before me in Jerufalem: yea,my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

17 And I gave my heart to know wifdom and to know madnefs and folly: I perceived that this alfo is vexation of spirit.

thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure : and behold this also is vanity.

2 I faid of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

31 fought in mine heart to give myself un. to wine, (yet acquainting mine heart with wifdom,) and to lay hold on folly, till I might fee what was that good for the fons of men, which they fhould do under the heaven ali the days of their life.

4 I made me great works; I builded me houfes; I planted me vineyards;

5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits;

6 I made me pools of water to water there. with the wood that bringeth forth trees;

7 I got me fervants and maidens, and had fervants born in my houfe; alfo I had great poffeffions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerufalem before me;

8 I gathered me alfo filver and gold, and the peculiar treasure et kings and of the provinces; I gat me men fingers and women fingers, and the delights of the fons of men, a musical instruments, and that of all forts.

9 So I was great and increased more than all that were before me in Jerufalem: alfo my wifdom remained with me.

10 And whatsoever mine eyes defired I kept not from them: I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of fpirit, and there was no profit under the fun.

12 And I turned myfelt to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

13 Then I faw that wifdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

14 The wife man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

15 Then faid I in my heart, As it happen. T} eth