[1] Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof driveth away sleep. [2] Watching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease breaketh sleep, [3] The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and when he resteth, he is filled with his delicates. [4] The poor laboureth in his poor estate; and when he leaveth off, he is still needy.
[5] He that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth corruption shall have enough thereof. [6] Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present. [7] It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it, and every fool shall be taken therewith. [8] Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and hath not gone after gold. [9] Who is he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things hath he done among his people. [10] Who hath been tried thereby, and found perfect? then let him glory. Who might offend, and hath not offended? or done evil, and hath not done it? [11] His goods shall be established, and the congregation shall declare his alms.
[12] If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say not, There is much meat on it. [13] Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing: and what is created more wicked than an eye? therefore it weepeth upon every occasion. [14] Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not with him into the dish. [15] Judge not thy neighbour by thyself: and be discreet in every point. [16] Eat as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; and devour note, lest thou be hated. [17] Leave off first for manners’ sake; and be not unsatiable, lest thou offend. [18] When thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of all. [19] A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed. [20] Sound sleep cometh of moderate eating: he riseth early, and his wits are with him: but the pain of watching, and choler, and pangs of the belly, are with an unsatiable man. [21] And if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and thou shalt have rest.
[22] My son, hear me, and despise me not, and at the last thou shalt find as I told thee: in all thy works be quick, so shall there no sickness come unto thee. [23] Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed. [24] But against him that is a niggard of his meat the whole city shall murmur; and the testimonies of his niggardness shall not be doubted of.
[25] Shew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed many. [26] The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the hearts of the proud by drunkenness. [27] Wine is as good as life to a man, if it be drunk moderately: what life is then to a man that is without wine? for it was made to make men glad. [28] Wine measurably drunk and in season bringeth gladness of the heart, and cheerfulness of the mind: [29] But wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind, with brawling and quarrelling. [30] Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend: it diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds. [31] Rebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and despise him not in his mirth: give him no despiteful words, and press not upon him with urging him to drink.
Chapter 35
[1] If thou be made the master of a feast, lift not thyself up, but be among them as one of the rest; take diligent care for them, and so sit down. [2] And when thou hast done all thy office, take thy place, that thou mayest be merry with them, and receive a crown for thy well ordering of the feast. [3] Speak, thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee, but with sound judgment; and hinder not musick. [4] Pour not out words where there is a musician, and shew not forth wisdom out of time. [5] A concert of musick in a banquet of wine is as a signet of carbuncle set in gold. [6] As a signet of an emerald set in a work of gold, so is the melody of musick with pleasant wine.
[7] Speak, young man, if there be need of thee: and yet scarcely when thou art twice asked. [8] Let thy speech be short, comprehending much in few words; be as one that knoweth and yet holdeth his tongue. [9] If thou be among great men, make not thyself equal with them; and when ancient men are in place, use not many words. [10] Before the thunder goeth lightning; and before a shamefaced man shall go favour. [11] Rise up betimes, and be not the last; but get thee home without delay. [12] There take thy pastime, and do what thou wilt: but sin not by proud speech. [13] And for these things bless him that made thee, and hath replenished thee with his good things.
[14] Whoso feareth the Lord will receive his discipline; and they that seek him early shall find favour. [15] He that seeketh the law shall be filled therewith: but the hypocrite will be offended thereat. [16] They that fear the Lord shall find judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light. [17] A sinful man will not be reproved, but findeth an excuse according to his will. [18] A man of counsel will be considerate; but a strange and proud man is not daunted with fear, even when of himself he hath done without counsel. [19] Do nothing without advice; and when thou hast once done, repent not.
[20] Go not in a way wherein thou mayest fall, and stumble not among the stones. [21] Be not confident in a plain way. [22] And beware of thine own children. [23] In every good work trust thy own soul; for this is the keeping of the commandments. [24] He that believeth in the Lord taketh heed to the commandment; and he that trusteth in him shall fare never the worse.
Chapter 36
[1] There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him. [2] A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm. [3] A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle. [4] Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer. [5] The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree. [6] A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.
[7] Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun? [8] By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts. [9] Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days.
[10] And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth: [11] In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse. [12] Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places. [13] As the clay is in the potter’s hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as liketh him best. [14] Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly. [15] So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two and two, one against another.
[11] Though I was the last to wake up, yet I received their inheritance as from the beginning. [12] O Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by thy name, and upon Israel, whom thou hast named thy firstborn. [13] O be merciful unto Jerusalem, thy holy city, the place of thy rest. [14] Fill Sion with thine unspeakable oracles, and thy people with thy glory: [15] Give testimony unto those that thou hast possessed from the beginning, and raise up prophets that have been in thy name. [16] Reward them that wait for thee, and let thy prophets be found faithful.
[17] O Lord, hear the prayer of thy servants, according to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, that all they which dwell upon the earth may know that thou art the Lord, the eternal God. [18] The belly devoureth all meats, yet is one meat better than another. [19] As the palate tasteth divers kinds of venison: so doth an heart of understanding false speeches. [20] A froward heart causeth heaviness: but a man of experience will recompense him.
[21] A woman will receive every man, yet is one daughter better than another. [22] The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance, and a man loveth nothing better. [23] If there be kindness, meekness, and comfort, in her tongue, then is not her husband like other men.
[24] He that getteth a wife beginneth a possession, a help like unto himself, and a pillar of rest. [25] Where no hedge is, th
ere the possession is spoiled: and he that hath no wife will wander up and down mourning. [26] Who will trust a thief well appointed, that skippeth from city to city? so who will believe a man that hath no house, and lodgeth wheresoever the night taketh him?
Chapter 37
[1] Every friend saith, I am his friend also: but there is a friend, which is only a friend in name. [2] Is it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy? [3] O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit? [4] There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him. [5] There is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy. [6] Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.
[7] Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that counselleth for himself. [8] Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee, [9] And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee. [10] Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee. [11] Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel.
[12] But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose, mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry. [13] And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it. [14] For a man’s mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower. [15] And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth. [16] Let reason go before every enterprise, and counsel before every action.
[17] The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart. [18] Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually. [19] There is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself. [20] There is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food. [21] For grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom. [22] Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.
[23] A wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his understanding fail not. [24] A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him shall count him happy. [25] The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are innumerable. [26] A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual.
[27] My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it. [28] For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing. [29] Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats: [30] For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler. [31] By surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.
Chapter 38
[1] Honour a physician with the honour due unto him for the uses which ye may have of him: for the Lord hath created him. [2] For of the most High cometh healing, and he shall receive honour of the king. [3] The skill of the physician shall lift up his head: and in the sight of great men he shall be in admiration. [4] The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them. [5] Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue thereof might be known? [6] And he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his marvellous works. [7] With such doth he heal men, and taketh away their pains. [8] Of such doth the apothecary make a confection; and of his works there is no end; and from him is peace over all the earth,
[9] My son, in thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto the Lord, and he will make thee whole. [10] Leave off from sin, and order thine hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all wickedness. [11] Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour; and make a fat offering, as not being. [12] Then give place to the physician, for the Lord hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him. [13] There is a time when in their hands there is good success. [14] For they shall also pray unto the Lord, that he would prosper that, which they give for ease and remedy to prolong life. [15] He that sinneth before his Maker, let him fall into the hand of the physician.
[16] My son, let tears fall down over the dead, and begin to lament, as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; and then cover his body according to the custom, and neglect not his burial. [17] Weep bitterly, and make great moan, and use lamentation, as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken of: and then comfort thyself for thy heaviness. [18] For of heaviness cometh death, and the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength. [19] In affliction also sorrow remaineth: and the life of the poor is the curse of the heart. [20] Take no heaviness to heart: drive it away, and member the last end. [21] Forget it not, for there is no turning again: thou shalt not do him good, but hurt thyself. [22] Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to day for thee. [23] When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him, when his Spirit is departed from him.
[24] The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise. [25] How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and whose talk is of bullocks? [26] He giveth his mind to make furrows; and is diligent to give the kine fodder. [27] So every carpenter and workmaster, that laboureth night and day: and they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make great variety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and watch to finish a work:
[28] The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace: the noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears, and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that he maketh; he setteth his mind to finish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly:
[29] So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is alway carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by number; [30] He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over; and he is diligent to make clean the furnace: [31] All these trust to their hands: and every one is wise in his work. [32] Without these cannot a city be inhabited: and they shall not dwell where they will, nor go up and down: [33] They shall not be sought for in publick counsel, nor sit high in the congregation: they shall not sit on the judges’ seat, nor understand the sentence of judgment: they cannot declare justice and judgment; and they shall not be found where parables are spoken. [34] But they will maintain the state of the world, and all their desire is in the work of their craft.
Chapter 39
[1] But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies. [2] He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also. [3] He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables. [4] He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the evil among men. [5] He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins.
[6] When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: he shall pour out wise sente
nces, and give thanks unto the Lord in his prayer. [7] He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate. [8] He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord. [9] Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation. [10] Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise. [11] If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it. [12] Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.
[13] Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field: [14] And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all his works. [15] Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this manner: [16] All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season. [17] And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time convenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment the waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters. [18] At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save. [19] The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes. [20] He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him.
[21] A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses. [22] His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood. [23] As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.
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