TH CHAP. XXI. HE king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whitherfoever he will. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. 3 To do juftice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than facrifice. 4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is fin. 5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteoufnefs: but of every one that is hafty, only to want. 6. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity toffed to and fro of them that feek death. 7 The robbery of the wicked fhall deftroy them: because they refufe to do judgment. 8 The way of man is froward and ftrange: but as for the pure, his work is right. 9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. To The foul of the wicked defireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. ir When the fcorner is punished, the simple is made wife: and when the wife is inftructed, he receiveth knowledge. 12 The righteous man wifely confidereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. 13 Whofo ftoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also fhall cry himself, but fhall not be heard. 14 A gift in fecret pacifieth anger, and a reward in the bofom, ftrong wrath. 15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but deftruction fhall be to the workers of iniquity. 16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding fhall remain in the congregation of the dead. 17 He that loveth pleasure fhall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil fhall not be rich. 18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the tranfgreffor for the upright. 19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angrywoman. 20 There is treasure to be defired, and oil in the dwelling of the wife: but a fool ifh man spendeth it up. 21 He that followeth after righteoufnefs and mercy,findeth life, righteousness, and honour. 22 A wife man scaleth the city of the mighty, and cafteth down the ftrength of the confidence thereof. 23 Whofo keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his foul from troubles. 24 Proud and haughty fcorner is his name who dealeth in proud wrath. 25 The defire of the flothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour: 26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and fpareth not. 27 The facrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? 28 A falfe witnefs fhall perifh but the man that heareth fpeaketh conftantly. 29 A wicked man hardenéth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. 30 There is no wildom nor understanding nor counfel against the Lord. 31 The horfe is prepared against the day of battle but fafety is of the Lord. A CHAP. XXII. Good name is rather to be chofen than great riches, and loving favour rather than filver and gold. 2 The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all. 3 A prudent man forefeeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the fimple pass on, and are punished. 4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honour, and life. 5 Thorns and fnares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his foul fhall be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is fervant to the lender. 8 He that foweth iniquity fhall reap vanity, and the rod of his anger shall fail. 9 He that hath a bountiful eye fhall be bleffed for he giveth of his bread to the poor. 10 Caft out the fcorner, and contention fhall go out; yea, ftrife and reproach fhall 11 He ceafe. Cc 2 II He that loveth pureness | the words of truth: that thot of heart, for the grace of his mighteft answer the words lips the king fhall be his of truth to them that send friend. unto thee? 12 The eyes of the Lord preferve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the tranfgreffor. 13 The flothful man faith, There is a lion without, I fhall be flain in the streets. 14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; he that is abhorred of the Lord fhall fall therein. 15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child: but the rod of correction fhall drive it far from him. 16 He that oppreffeth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, fhall furely come to want. 17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wife, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they fhall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy truft may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counfels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of 24 Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man thou fhalt not go: 25 Left thou learn his ways, and get a fnare to thy foul. 26 Be not thou one of them that ftrike hands, or of them that are fureties for debts. 27 If thou haft nothing to pay, why fhould he take away thy bed from under thee? 28 Remove not the ancient land-mark which thy fathers have set. 29 Seeft thou a man diligent in his business he fhall ftand before kings; he fhalt not ftand before mean men: CHAP. XXIII. 3 Be not derfious of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. 4 Labour not to be rich: ceafe from thine own wifdom. 5 Wilt thou fet thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themfelves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither defire thou his dainty meats 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, fo is he: Eat and drink, faith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 8 The morfel which thou haft eaten fhalt thou vomit up, and lose thy fweet words. 9 Speak not in the ears of a fool for he will defpife the wisdom, of thy words. 10 Remove not the old land-mark: and enter not into the fields of the fatherlefs: II For their Redeemer is mighty he fhall plead their .caufe with thee. 12 Apply thine heart unto inftruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. ver his foul from hell. 15 My fon, if thine heart be wife, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. 16 Yea, my reins fhall rejoice, when thy lips fpeak right things. 17 Let not thine heart envy finners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long : 18 For furely there is an end; and thine expectation fhall not be cut off. 19 Hear thou, my fon, and be wife, and guide thine heart in the way. 20 Be not amongst winebibbers; amongst riotous eaters of flesh : 21 For the drunkard and the glutton fhall come to poverty: and drowsiness fhall clothe a man with rags. 22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and defpife not thy mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; alfo wisdom, and inftruction, and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous fhall greatly re13 With-hold not correc-joice: and he that begetteth tion from the child: for, if a wife child fhall have joy of thou beateft him with the him. rod, he fhall not die : 14 Thou fhalt beat him with the rod, and fhalt deli 25 Thy father and thy mother fhall be glad, and she that bare thee fhall rejoice. Cc3 26 My 26 My fon, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes ob ferve my ways. CHAP. XXIV. 27 ditch and a strange woman is a narrow pit. For a whore is a deep BE not thou envious against evil men, neither defire to be with them: 2 For their heart ftudieth deftruction, and their lips talk of mifchief. 28 She alfo lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the tranfgreffors among men. 29 Who hath woe? who hath forrow? who hath contentions? who hath bab-ed: 3 Through wisdom is an houfe builded; and by understanding it is establish bling who hath wounds. 4 And by knowledge fhall without caufe? who hath the chambers be filled with redness of eyes ? 30 They that tarry long at the wine, they that go to feek mixed wine, 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a ferpent, and ftingeth like an adder. 33 Thine eyes fhall behold ftrange women, and thine heart fhall utter perverfe things. 34 Yea, thou fhalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a maft. 35 They have ftricken me, fhalt thou fay, and I was not fick they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when fhall I awake? I will feek it yet again. all precious and pleasant riches. 5 A wife man is ftrong yea, a man of knowledge increafeth ftrength. 6 For by wife counfel thou fhalt make thy war; and in multitude of counsellers there is fafety. 7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; he openeth not his mouth in the gate. 8 He that devifeth to do evil fhall be called a mischievous perfon, 9 The thought of foolishnefs is fin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. 10 If thou faint in the day of adverfity, thy ftrength is fmall. II If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be flain; 12 If thou fayeft, Behold, we |