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Chapter 25
These also are the sayings of Solomon,
which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah gathered together.
It is the honor of God to keep a thing secret, but the kings
is to search out a thing.
The heaven is high, the earth is deep, and the kings heart is
unsearchable.
Take the dross from the silver, and there shall be a clean
vessel thereof.
Take away ungodliness from the king, and his seat shall be
stablished with righteousness.
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and *prease
not into the place of great men.
Better it is that it be said unto thee: Come up hither, than
thou to be set down in the presence of the prince whom thou seest
with thine eyes.
Be not hasty to go to the law, lest happily thou order thyself
so that at the last, that thy neighbor put thee to shame.
Handle thy matter with thy neighbor himself, and discover not
another mans secret: lest when men hear thereof, it turn to thy
dishonor, and lest thine evil name do not cease.
A word spoken in due season, is like apples of gold in a
silver dish.
The correction of the wife is to an obedient ear, a golden
chain and a Jewel of gold.
Like as the winter cool in the harvest, so is a faithful
messenger to him that send him, and refresheth his masters mind.
Whoso maketh great boasts and giveth nothing, is like clouds
and wind without rain.
With patience may a prince be pacified, and with a soft tongue
may rigorousness be broken.
If thou findest honey, eat so much as is sufficient for thee:
lest thou be over full, and *perbrake it out again.
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbors house, lest he be weary
of thee, and so abhor thee.
Who so beareth false witness against his neighbor, he is a
very spear, a sword, and a sharp arrow.
The hope of the ungodly in time of need, is like a rotten
tooth and a slippery foot.
Who so singeth a song to a wicked heart, clotheth him with
rags in the cold, and poureth vinegar upon chalk.
If thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst, give him drink:
For so shalt thou heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord
shall reward thee.
The north wind driveth away the rain, even so doth an *earnest
sober countenance a backbiting tongue.
It is better to sit in the corner under the roof, than with a
brawling woman in a wide house.
A good report out of a far country, is like cold water to a
thirsty soul.
A righteous man falling down before the ungodly, is like a
troubled well and a spring that is destroyed.
Like as it is not good to eat to much honey, even so he that
will search out high things, it shall be to heavy for him.
He that can not rule himself, is like a city which is broken
down, and hath no walls.
* prease = may be from pace or prance, as if to place your self
expectantly in their presence. *earnest sober countenance a
backbiting tongue. * kjv and other bibles of man = angry
countenance. *perbrake :vomit
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Chapter 26
Like as snow is not mete in
summer, nor rain in harvest: even so is worship unseemly for a fool.
As the bird and the swallow take their flight and flee here
and there, so the curse that is given in vain, shall not light upon
a man.
Unto the horse belongeth the whip, to the ass a bridle, and a
rod to a fools back.
Give not the fool an answer after his foolishness, lest thou
become like him: but make the fool an answer to his foolishness,
lest he be wise in his own conceit.
He is lame of his feet, yee drunken is he in vanity, that
committeth anything to a fool.
Like as it is an unseemly thing to have legs and yet to halt,
even so is a parable in a fools mouth.
He that seateth a fool in a high dignity, that is even as if a
man did cast a precious stone upon the *galous.
A parable in a fools mouth is like a thorn that pricketh a
drunken man in the hand.
**
A man of experience discerneth all things well, but who so
hireth a fool, hireth such one as will take no heed.
Like as a the dog turneth again to his vomit, even so a fool
beginneth his foolishness again a fresh.
If thou seest a man that is wise in his own conceit, there is
more hope in a fool than in him.
The slothful sayeth: There is a leopard in the way, and a lion
in the midest of the streets.
Like as the door turneth about upon the threshold, even so
doth the slothful *welter himself upon his bed.
The slothful body thrusteth his hand into his bosom, and it
grieveth him to put it again to his mouth.
The sluggard thinketh himself wiser, then seven men that sit
and teach.
Who so goeth by and meddleth with other mens strife, he is
like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Like as one that shooteth arrows and darts out of a privy
place, even so doth a dissembler with his neighbor.
And then sayeth he: I did it in sport.
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: and where the
backbiter is taken away, there the strife ceaseth.
Coals kindle heat, and wood the fire: even so doth a brawling
fellow stirreth up variance.
A scaundlers words are like flattery, but they pierce the
inward parts of the body.
Envious lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered
with silver dross.
An enemy dissembleth with his lips, and in the mean season he
imagineth mischief: but when he speaketh fair, believe him not, for
there are seven abominations in his heart.
Who so keepeth evil will, secretly do hurt, his malice shall
be showed before the whole congregation.
Who diggeth up a pit, shall fall therein: and he that
weltereth a stone, shall stumble upon it himself.
A dissembling tongue hateth one that rebuketh him, and a
flattering mouth worketh mischief.
*galous = may be gallows
**kjv and other bibles of man ;enters this line here. RN = The great
God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth
wickeds.
* welter = to waller, roll, and toss about as if in high seas.
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Chapter 27
Make not thy boast of to morrow,
for thou knowest not what may happen today.
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth: yee
other folks lips and not thine.
The stone is heavy, and the sand weighty: but a fools wrath is
heavier than both.
Wrath is a cruel thing, and furriousness is a very tempest:
yee who is able to abide envy?
An open rebuke is better than secret love.
Faithful are the wounds of a lover, but the kisses of an enemy
are deceitful.
He that is full, abhoreth the honeycomb: but unto him that is
hungry every sour thing is sweet.
He that often times flitteth, is like a bird that foresaketh
her nest.
The heart is glad of answer, ointment and savor, but a stomach
that can give good counsel, rejoiceth a mans neighbor.
Thine own friend, and thy fathers friend, see thou forsake
not, but go not into thy brothers house in time of thy trouble.
Better is a friend at hand than a brother far off.
My son, be wise, and thou shall make me a glad heart: so that
I shall make answer unto my rebukers.
A wise man seeing the plague, will hide himself, as for fools
they go on still, and suffer harm.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a
pledge of him for the *unknown mans sake.
He that is to hasty to praise his neighbor above measure,
shall be taken as one that giveth him an evil report.
A brawling woman and the roof of the house dropping in a rainy
day, may well be compared together.
He that refraineth her, refraineth the wind, and holdeth oil
fast in his hand.
Like as one iron *wheteth another, so does one man comfort
another.
Whoso keepeth his fig tree, shall enjoy the fruits thereof: he
that waiteth upon his master, shall come to honor.
Like as in one water there appear diverse faces, even so
diverse men have diverse hearts.
Like as hell and destruction are never full, even so the eyes
of men can never be satisfied.
Silver is tried in the mould, and gold in the furnace, and so
is a man, when he is openly praised to his face.
Though thou shouldest bray a fool with a pedestal in a mortar
like oat meal, yet will not his foolishness go from him.
See that thou know the number of thy cattle thy self, and look
well to thy flocks.
For riches abide not away, and the **crown endure not for
ever.
The hay groweth, and the grass cometh up, and herbs are
gathered in the mountains.
The lambs shall clothe thee, and for the goats thou shalt have
money to thy husbandry.
Thou shalt have goats milk enough to feed thee, to uphold thy
household, and to sustain thy maidens.
*unknown mans sake. * kjv and other bibles of man = a strange woman.
*wheteth (sharpens; very sharpened with water and rock...RN )
**crown endure not for ever. Compare kjv and other bibles of man as
to the crown enduring for ever. RN
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Chapter 28
The ungodly
fleeth no man chasing him, but the righteous standeth fast as a
lion.
Because of sin the land doth often change her prince: but
through men of understanding and wisdom a realm endureth long.
Compare kjv as to this text. RN
One poor man oppressing another by violence, is like a
continual rain that destroyeth the fruit.
They that forsake the law praise the ungodly: but such as keep
the law, abhor them.
Wicked men discern not the things that is right, but they that
seek after the Lord, discuss all things.
A poor man leading a godly life, is better than the rich that
goeth in froward ways.
Whoso keepeth the law, is a child of understanding: but he
that feedeth riotous men, shameth his father.
Who so increaseth his riches by vantage and winning, let him
gather them to help the poor withal.
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, his prayer
shall be abhorred.
Whoso leadeth the righteous in to an evil way, shall fall into
his own pit, but the just shall have the good in possession.
The rich man thinketh himself to be wise, but the poor that
hath understanding, can perceive him well enough.
When righteous men are in prosperity, then doth honor
flourish: but when the ungodly come up, the state of men changeth.
He that hideth his sins, shall not prosper: but whoso
knowledgeth them and forsaketh them, shall have mercy.
Well is him that standeth always in awe: as for him that
hardeneth his heart, he shall fall into mischief.
Like as a roaring lion and a hungry bear, even so is a ungodly
prince over the poor people.
Where the prince is without understanding, there is great
oppression and wrong: but if he be such one as hateth covetousness,
he shall long reign.
He that by violence sheddeth any mans blood, shall be a
renegade unto his grave, and no man shall be able to succure him.
Who so leadeth a godly and innocent life, shall be safe: but
he that goeth froward ways, shall once have a fall.
He that tilleth his land, shall have plenteousness of bread:
but he that followeth idleness, shall have poverty enough.
A faithful man is to be greatly to be commended, but he that
maketh to much haste to be rich, shall not be unguilty.
To have respect of persons in judgement is not good: And why?
he will do wrong, yee even for a piece of bread.
He that will be rich all to soon, hath an evil eye, and
considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
He that rebuketh a man, shall find no favor at the last, than
he that flattereth him.
Whoso robbeth his father and mother, and saith it is no sin:
the same is like unto a murderer.
He that is of a proud stomach, stirreth up strife: but he that
putteth his trust in the Lord, shall be well fed.
He that trusteth in his own heart, is a fool: but he that
dealeth wisely, shall be safe.
He that giveth unto the poor, shall not want: but he that
turneth his eyes from such as be in necessity, shall suffer great
poverty himself.
When the ungodly are come up, men are faine to hide
themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
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Chapter 29
He that is stiff
necked and will not be reformed, shall suddenly be destroyed without
any help.
Where the righteous have the over hand, the people are in
prosperity: but where the ungodly beareth rule, there the people
mourn.
Whoso loveth wisdom, maketh his father a glad man: but he that
keepeth harlots spendeth away that he hath.
With true judgment the king setteth up the land, but he be a
man that taketh gifts, he turneth it upside down.
Who so flattereth his neighbor, layeth a net for his feet.
The sin of the wicked is his own snare, but the righteous
shall be glad and rejoice.
The righteous considereth the cause of the poor, but the
ungodly regardeth no understanding.
Wicked people bring a city in decay, but wise men set it up
again.
If a wise man go to the law with a fool ( whether he deal with
him friendly or roughly) he getteth no rest.
The bloodthirsty hate the righteous, but the just seek his
soul.
A fool poureth out his spirit altogether, but a wise man
keepeth it in till afterwards.
If a prince delight in lies, all his servants are ungodly.
The poor and the lender meet together, the Lord lighteneth
both their eyes.
The fear of the King that faithfully judgeth the poor, shall
continue sure for ever more.
The rod and correction minister wisdom, but if a child be not
looked unto, he bringeth his mother to shame.
When the ungodly come up, wickedness increaseth: but the
righteous shall see their fall.
Nurture thy son with correction, and he shall comfort thee,
yee, he shall do the good at thine heart.
Where no Prophet is, there the people perish: but well is him
that keeps the law.
A servant will not be the better for words, for though he
understand, he will not regard them.
If you see a man that is hasty to speak unadvised, you may
trust a fool than of him.
He that delicately brings up his servant from a child, shall
make him his master at the length.
An angry man stirs up strife, and he that bears evil well in
his mind, does much evil.
After pride comes fall, but a lowly spirit brings great
worship.
Whoso keeps company with a thief, hates his own soul: he
hears blasphemes and tells it not forth.
He that fears men, shall have a fall: but whoso puts his
trust in the Lord shall come to honor.
Many there be that seek the Princes favor, but every mans
judgement comes from the Lord.
The righteous abhors the ungodly: but as for those that be in
the right way, the wicked hate them. |
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Chapter 30
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh
*The prophecy of a true and faithful man, whom God hath
helped, whom God had comforted and nourished.
For though I am least of all, and have no mans understanding (
for I never learned wisdom) yet have I understanding, and am well
informed in Godly things. Who hath climbed up into heaven? Who hath
come down from thence? Who hath holden the wind fast in his hands?
Who hath comprehended the waters in a garment? Who hath set all the
ends of the world? What is his name, or what is his sons name?
Canest thou tell? All the words of God are pure and clean, for he is
a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Put thou nothing
unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Two things I require of thee, that thou will not deny me
before I die. Remove from me vanity and lies: give me neither
poverty nor riches, only grant me a necessary living. Lest I be so
full, I deny thee, and say: What fellow is the Lord? And lest I
being constrained through poverty, fall unto stealing, and foreswear
the name of my God. Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he
speak evil of thee also, and thou be hurt. He that bringeth up an
evil report upon the generation of his father and mother, is not
worthy to be commended.
The generation that think themselves clean, shall not be
cleansed from their filthiness. There are people that have a proud
look, and cast up their eyelids. This peoples teeth are swords, and
their chaft bones they consume and devour the simple of the earth,
and the poor from among men.
This generation which is like an horseleach, hath two
daughters: the one is called fetch hither, and the other bring
hither.
There are three things that are never satisfied, and the
fourth sayeth never hoo. The hell, a womans womb, and the earth hath
never water enough. As for fire, it sayeth never, *hoo. Whoso
laugheth his father to scorn, and setteth his mothers commandment to
naught: the ravens pick out his eyes in the valley, and devoured be
he of the young eagles.
There be three things too high for me, and as for the fourth,
it passeth my knowledge. The way of an eagle in the air, the way of
a serpent over a stone, the way of a ship in sea, and the way of a
man with a young woman. Such is the way of an wife that breaketh
wedlock, which wipeth her mouth like as when she hath eaten, and
saith. As for me, I have done no harm. Through three things the
earth is disquieted, and the fourth may it not bear: Through a
servant that beareth rule, through a fool that hath great riches,
through an idle housewife, and through an handmaiden that is heir to
her mistress.
There be four things in the earth, the which are very little:
but in wisdom they exceed the wise. The *Emmettes are but a weak
people, yet gather they their meat in the harvest. The conies are
but a feeble folk, yet make they their couches among the rocks. The
grasshoppers have not a guide, yet go they forth together by heaps.
The spider laboreth with her hands, and that in the Kings palace.
There be three things that go stiffly, but the going of the
fourth is the godliest of all. A Lion which is King of beasts, and
giveth place to no man: A cock ready to fight: A ram and a King that
goeth forth with his people. If thou be so foolish to imagine
thyself, or meddlest with any such thing, then lay thine hand upon
thy mouth. Who so churneth milk, maketh butter: he that rubbeth his
nose, maketh it bleed: and he that causeth wrath, bringeth forth
strife.
*The prophecy of a true and faithful man, whom God hath helped, whom
God had comforted and nourished. kjv has this line... spake unto
Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, RN *hoo (whoa, stop ). *Emmettes
(ants) cap E.
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Chapter 31
The words of King
Lemuel,
and the Prophecy that his mother taught him.
My son, thou son of my body: O' my dear beloved son, give not
over thy substance and mind unto women, which are the destruction
even of Kings. O' Lamuel. give Kings no wine, give Kings and Princes
no strong drink: Lest they being drunk forget the law, and regard
not the cause of the poor, and of all such as be in adversity. Be
thou an advocate and stand in judgement thyself, to speak for all
such as be dumb and socourless. With thy mouth defend the thing that
is right, and the cause of the poor and helpless.
Aleph
Who so findeth an honest faithful woman, she is much more
worth then pearls.
Beth
The heart of her husband may safely trust in her, so that he
shall have no need of spoils.
Gimel
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Daleth
She occupieth wool and flax, and laboreth gladly with her
hands.
He
She is like the merchants ship, that bringeth her vitailes
from afar.
Vav
She is up in the night season, to provide meat for her
household, and food for her maidens.
Zain
She considereth land, and buyeth it, with the fruit of her
hands she planteth a vineyard.
Heth
She girdeth her loins with strength, and courageth her arms.
Teth
And if she perceiveth that her housewifery dooth good, her
candle goeth not out by night.
Yod
She layeth her fingers to the spindle, and her hand taketh
hold of the rock.
Caph
She openeth her hand to the poor, yee she stretcheth forth her
hands to such as have need.
Lamed
She feareth not that the cold of winter shall hurt her house,
for all her household folks are double clothed. kjv has: clothed
with scarlet.
Mem
She maketh herself fair ornaments, her clothing is white silk
and purple.
Nun
Her husband is much set by in the gates, when he sitteth among
the rulers of the land.
Samech
She maketh cloth of silk and selleth it, and delivereth a
girdle unto the merchant.
Ain
Strength and honor is her clothing, and in the latter day she
shall rejoice.
Phe
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the
law of grace.
Zade
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not
her bread with idleness.
Koph
Her children arise, and call her blessed: and her husband
maketh much of her.
Res
Many daughters there be that gather riches together, but thou
goest above them all.
Sin
As for favor, it is deceitful, and beauty is vain thing: but a
woman that feareth the Lord, she is worthy to be praised.
Thau
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works
praise her in the gates. |
Chapters 1-15
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16-24 |
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