[11] Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not thy help. [12] But if thou shouldest say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.
[13] My son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that thy throat may be sweetened. [14] Thus shalt thou perceive wisdom in thy soul: for if thou find it, thine end shall be good, and hope shall not fail thee.
[15] Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly. [16] For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise again: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles. [17] If thine enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow. [18] For the Lord will see it, and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him. [19] Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners. [20] For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
[21] My son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them. [22] For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance inflicted by both?
[A son that keeps the commandment shall escape destruction; for such an one has fully received it. Let no falsehood be spoken by the king from the tongue; yea, let no falsehood proceed from his tongue. The king’s tongue is a sword, and not one of flesh; and whosoever shall be given up to it shall be destroyed: for if his wrath should be provoked, he destroys men with cords, and devours men’s bones, and burns them up as a flame, so that they are not even fit to be eaten by the young eagles. My son, reverence my words, and receive them, and repent.]
Chapter 25
[1] These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease.
[2] For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men. [3] God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy. [4] Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children? [5] For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him. [6] Add not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be made a liar.
[7] Two things I ask of thee; take not favour from me before I die. [8] Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth or poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient: [9] lest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear vainly by the name of God.
[10] Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be utterly destroyed. [11] A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother. [12] A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way. [13] A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids. [14] A wicked generation have swords for teeth and jaw-teeth as knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from among men.
[23] And this thing I say to you that are wise for you to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. [24] He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations. [25] But they that reprove him shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them; [26] and men will kiss lips that answer well. [27] Prepare thy works for thy going forth, and prepare thyself for the field; and come after me, and thou shalt rebuild thine house. [28] Be not a false witness against thy fellow citizen, neither exaggerate with thy lips. [29] Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me. [30] A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard. [31] If thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down. [32] Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction. [33] The sluggard says,I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across my breast. [34] But if thou do this, thy poverty will come speedily; and thy want like a swift courier.
[15] The horse-leech had three dearly-beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough. [16] The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough.
[17] The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it. [18] Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not: [19] the track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth. [20] Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss.
[21] By three thing the earth is troubled, and the fourth it cannot bear: [22] if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food; [23] or if a maid-servant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man.
[24] And there are four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise: [25] the ants which are weak, and yet prepare their food in summer; [26] the rabbits also are a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks. [27] The locusts have no king, and yet march orderly at one command. [28] And the eft, which supports itself by its hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings.
[29] And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely. [30] A lion’s whelp, stronger than all other beasts, which turns not away, nor fears any beast; [31] and a cock walking in boldly among the hens, and the goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation.
[32] If thou abandon thyself to mirth, and stretch forth thine hand in a quarrel, thou shalt be disgraced. [33] Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if thou wing one’s nostrils there shall come out blood: so if thou extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes.
Chapter 26
[1] My words have been spoken by God — the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
[2] What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows? [3] Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel. [4] Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine: [5] lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly. [6] Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain: [7] that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more. [8] Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly. [9] Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
Chapter 27
[1] These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
[2] The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business. [3] Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king’s heart is unsearchable. [4] Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure. [5] Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
[6] Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes; [7] for it is better for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, than that one should humble thee in the presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen.
[8] Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last. [9] Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise him not; [10] lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death. Favour and friendship set a man free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to t
hy ways peaceably.
[11] As a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so is it to speak a wise word. [12] In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; so is a wise word to an obedient ear. [13] As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger refreshes those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
[14] As winds and clouds and rains are most evident objects, so is he that boasts of a false gift. [15] In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones. [16] Having found honey, eat only what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up. [17] Enter sparingly into thy friend’s house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee. [18] As a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend. [19] The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
[20] As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
[21] If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; [22] for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee with good. [23] The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue. [24] It is better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house. [25] As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off. [26] As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so is it unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man. [27] It is not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings. [28] As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
Chapter 28
[1] As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not seemly for a fool. [2] As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause. [3] As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so is a rod for a simple nation. [4] Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou become like him. [5] Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit. [6] He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways. [7] As well take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools. [8] He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool. [9] Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools. [10] All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nought. [11] As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame that is glory and grace.] [12] I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he. [13] A sluggard when sent on a journey says, There is a lion in the ways, and there are murderers in the streets.
[14] As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed. [15] A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth. [16] A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
[17] As he that lays hold of a dog’s tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another’s cause. [18] As those who need correction put forth fair words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown; [19] so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest. [20] With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases. [21] A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife. [22] The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they smite even to the inmost parts of the bowels.
[23] Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart. [24] A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit. [25] Though thine enemy intreat thee with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. [26] He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies. [27] He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself. [28] A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
Chapter 29
[1] Boast not of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what the next day shall bring forth. [2] Let thy neighbour, and not thine own mouth, praise thee; a stranger, and not thine own lips. [3] A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than both. [4] Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing. [5] Open reproofs are better than secret love. [6] The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
[7] A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet. [8] As when a bird flies down from its own nest, so a man is brought into bondage whenever he estranges himself from his own place. [9] The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
[10] Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; and when thou art in distress go not into thy brother’s house: better is a friend that is near than a brother living far off. [11] Son, be wise, that thy heart may rejoice; and remove thou from thyself reproachful words. [12] A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished. [13] Take away the man’s garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another’s goods. [14] Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses him.
[15] On a stormy day drops of rain drive a man out of his house; so also does a railing woman drive a man out of his own house. [16] The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious. [17] Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend’s countenance. [18] He that plants a fig-tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured. [19] As faces are not like other faces, so neither are the thoughts of men. [20] Hell and destruction are not filled; so also are the eyes of men insatiable. [He that fixes his eye is an abomination to the Lord; and the uninstructed do not restrain their tongue.] [21] Fire is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried by the mouth of them that praise him. The heart of the transgressor seeks after mischiefs; but an upright heart seeks knowledge. [22] Though thou scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, thou wilt still in no wise remove his folly from him.
[23] Do thou thoroughly know the number of thy flock, and pay attention to thine herds. [24] For a man has not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation. [25] Take care of the herbage in the field, and thou shalt cut grass, and gather the mountain hay; [26] that thou mayest have wool of sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that thou mayest have lambs. [27] My son, thou hast from me words very useful for thy life, and for the life of thy servants.
Chapter 30
[1] The ungodly man flees when no one pursues: but the righteous is confident as a lion. [2] By reason of the sins of ungodly men quarrels arise; but a wise man will quell them. [3] A bold man oppresses the poor by ungodly deeds. As an impetuous and profitable rain, [4] so they that forsake the law praise ungodliness; but they that love the law fortify themselves with a wall. [5] Evil men will not understand judgement: but they that seek the Lord will understand everything.
[6] A poor man walking in truth is better than a rich liar. [7] A wise son keeps the law: but he that keeps up debauchery dishonours his father. [8] He that increases his wealth by usuries and unjust gains, gathers it for him that pities the poor. [9] He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even he has made his prayer abominable.
[10] He that causes upright men to err in an evil way, himself shall fall into destruction: transgressor also shall pass by prosperity, but shall not enter into it. [11] A rich man is wise in his own conceit; but an intelligent poor man will condemn him. [12] By reason o
f the help of righteous men great glory arises: but in the places of the ungodly men are caught.
[13] He that covers his own ungodliness shall not prosper: but he that blames himself shall be loved. [14] Blessed is the man who religiously fears always: but the hard of heart shall fall into mischiefs. [15] A hungry lion and a thirsty wolf is he, who, being poor, rules over a poor nation.
[16] A king in need of revenues is a great oppressor: but he that hates injustice shall live a long time.
[17] He that becomes surety for a man charged with murder shall be an exile, and not in safety. Chasten thy son, and he shall love thee, and give honour to thy soul: he shall not obey a sinful nation. [18] He that walks justly is assisted: but he that walks in crooked ways shall be entangled therein. [19] He that tills his own land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that follows idleness shall have plenty of poverty.
[20] A man worthy of credit shall be much blessed: but the wicked shall not be unpunished. [21] He that reverences not the persons of the just is not good: such a one will sell a man for a morsel of bread. [22] An envious man makes haste to be rich, and knows not that the merciful man will have the mastery over him.
[23] He that reproves a man’s ways shall have more favour than he that flatters with the tongue. [24] He that casts off father or mother, and thinks he sins not; the same is partaker with an ungodly man. [25] An unbelieving man judges rashly: but he that trusts in the Lord will act carefully. [26] He that trusts to a bold heart, such an one is a fool: but he that walks in wisdom shall be safe. [27] He that gives to the poor shall not be in want: but he that turns away his eye from him shall be in great distress. [28] In the places of ungodly men the righteous mourn: but in their destruction the righteous shall be multiplied.
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