by Septuagint
[15] If a skilful man hear a wise word, he will commend it, and add unto it: but as soon as one of no understanding heareth it, it displeaseth him, and he casteth it behind his back. [16] The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but grace shall be found in the lips of the wise. [17] They enquire at the mouth of the wise man in the congregation, and they shall ponder his words in their heart. [18] As is a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the knowledge of the unwise is as talk without sense. [19] Doctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand. [20] A fool lifteth up his voice with laughter; but a wise man doth scarce smile a little. [21] Learning is unto a wise man as an ornament of gold, and like a bracelet upon his right arm.
[22] A foolish man’s foot is soon in his neighbour’s house: but a man of experience is ashamed of him. [23] A fool will peep in at the door into the house: but he that is well nurtured will stand without. [24] It is the rudeness of a man to hearken at the door: but a wise man will be grieved with the disgrace. [25] The lips of talkers will be telling such things as pertain not unto them: but the words of such as have understanding are weighed in the balance. [26] The heart of fools is in their mouth: but the mouth of the wise is in their heart. [27] When the ungodly curseth Satan, he curseth his own soul.
[28] A whisperer defileth his own soul, and is hated wheresoever he dwelleth.
Chapter 22
[1] A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, and every one will hiss him out to his disgrace. [2] A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: every man that takes it up will shake his hand. [3] An evilnurtured man is the dishonour of his father that begat him: and a foolish daughter is born to his loss. [4] A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that liveth dishonestly is her father’s heaviness. [5] She that is bold dishonoureth both her father and her husband, but they both shall despise her. [6] A tale out of season is as musick in mourning: but stripes and correction of wisdom are never out of time. [7] Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, and as he that waketh one from a sound sleep. [8] He that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a slumber: when he hath told his tale, he will say, What is the matter? [9] If children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they shall cover the baseness of their parents. [10] But children, being haughty, through disdain and want of nurture do stain the nobility of their kindred. [11] Weep for the dead, for he hath lost the light: and weep for the fool, for he wanteth understanding: make little weeping for the dead, for he is at rest: but the life of the fool is worse than death. [12] Seven days do men mourn for him that is dead; but for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of his life. [13] Talk not much with a fool, and go not to him that hath no understanding: beware of him, lest thou have trouble, and thou shalt never be defiled with his fooleries: depart from him, and thou shalt find rest, and never be disquieted with madness. [14] What is heavier than lead? and what is the name thereof, but a fool? [15] Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, than a man without understanding.
[16] As timber girt and bound together in a building cannot be loosed with shaking: so the heart that is stablished by advised counsel shall fear at no time. [17] A heart settled upon a thought of understanding is as a fair plaistering on the wall of a gallery. [18] Pales set on an high place will never stand against the wind: so a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool cannot stand against any fear.
[19] He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall: and he that pricketh the heart maketh it to shew her knowledge. [20] Whoso casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them away: and he that upbraideth his friend breaketh friendship. [21] Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not: for there may be a returning to favour. [22] If thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not; for there may be a reconciliation: except for upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for for these things every friend will depart.
[23] Be faithful to thy neighbour in his poverty, that thou mayest rejoice in his prosperity: abide stedfast unto him in the time of his trouble, that thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage: for a mean estate is not always to be contemned: nor the rich that is foolish to be had in admiration. [24] As the vapour and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire; so reviling before blood. [25] I will not be ashamed to defend a friend; neither will I hide myself from him. [26] And if any evil happen unto me by him, every one that heareth it will beware of him. [27] Who shall set a watch before my mouth, and a seal of wisdom upon my lips, that I fall not suddenly by them, and that my tongue destroy me not?
Chapter 23
[1] O Lord, Father and Governor of all my whole life, leave me not to their counsels, and let me not fall by them. [2] Who will set scourges over my thoughts, and the discipline of wisdom over mine heart? that they spare me not for mine ignorances, and it pass not by my sins: [3] Lest mine ignorances increase, and my sins abound to my destruction, and I fall before mine adversaries, and mine enemy rejoice over me, whose hope is far from thy mercy.
[4] O Lord, Father and God of my life, give me not a proud look, but turn away from thy servants always a haughty mind. [5] Turn away from me vain hopes and concupiscence, and thou shalt hold him up that is desirous always to serve thee. [6] Let not the greediness of the belly nor lust of the flesh take hold of me; and give not over me thy servant into an impudent mind.
[7] Hear, O ye children, the discipline of the mouth: he that keepeth it shall never be taken in his lips. [8] The sinner shall be left in his foolishness: both the evil speaker and the proud shall fall thereby. [9] Accustom not thy mouth to swearing; neither use thyself to the naming of the Holy One. [10] For as a servant that is continually beaten shall not be without a blue mark: so he that sweareth and nameth God continually shall not be faultless. [11] A man that useth much swearing shall be filled with iniquity, and the plague shall never depart from his house: if he shall offend, his sin shall be upon him: and if he acknowledge not his sin, he maketh a double offence: and if he swear in vain, he shall not be innocent, but his house shall be full of calamities. [12] There is a word that is clothed about with death: God grant that it be not found in the heritage of Jacob; for all such things shall be far from the godly, and they shall not wallow in their sins. [13] Use not thy mouth to intemperate swearing, for therein is the word of sin.
[14] Remember thy father and thy mother, when thou sittest among great men. Be not forgetful before them, and so thou by thy custom become a fool, and wish that thou hadst not been born, and curse they day of thy nativity. [15] The man that is accustomed to opprobrious words will never be reformed all the days of his life.
[16] Two sorts of men multiply sin, and the third will bring wrath: a hot mind is as a burning fire, it will never be quenched till it be consumed: a fornicator in the body of his flesh will never cease till he hath kindled a fire. [17] All bread is sweet to a whoremonger, he will not leave off till he die.
[18] A man that breaketh wedlock, saying thus in his heart, Who seeth me? I am compassed about with darkness, the walls cover me, and no body seeth me; what need I to fear? the most High will not remember my sins: [19] Such a man only feareth the eyes of men, and knoweth not that the eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun, beholding all the ways of men, and considering the most secret parts. [20] He knew all things ere ever they were created; so also after they were perfected he looked upon them all. [21] This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and where he suspecteth not he shall be taken.
[22] Thus shall it go also with the wife that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an heir by another. [23] For first, she hath disobeyed the law of the most High; and secondly, she hath trespassed against her own husband; and thirdly, she hath played the whore in adultery, and brought children by another man. [24] She shall be brought out into the congregation, and inquisition shall be made of her children. [25] Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall bring forth no
fruit. [26] She shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her reproach shall not be blotted out. [27] And they that remain shall know that there is nothing better than the fear of the Lord, and that there is nothing sweeter than to take heed unto the commandments of the Lord. [28] It is great glory to follow the Lord, and to be received of him is long life.
Chapter 24
[1] Wisdom shall praise herself, and shall glory in the midst of her people. [2] In the congregation of the most High shall she open her mouth, and triumph before his power. [3] I came out of the mouth of the most High, and covered the earth as a cloud. [4] I dwelt in high places, and my throne is in a cloudy pillar. [5] I alone compassed the circuit of heaven, and walked in the bottom of the deep. [6] In the waves of the sea and in all the earth, and in every people and nation, I got a possession. [7] With all these I sought rest: and in whose inheritance shall I abide? [8] So the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and he that made me caused my tabernacle to rest, and said, Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thine inheritance in Israel. [9] He created me from the beginning before the world, and I shall never fail.
[10] In the holy tabernacle I served before him; and so was I established in Sion. [11] Likewise in the beloved city he gave me rest, and in Jerusalem was my power. [12] And I took root in an honourable people, even in the portion of the Lord’s inheritance. [13] I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree upon the mountains of Hermon. [14] I was exalted like a palm tree in En-gaddi, and as a rose plant in Jericho, as a fair olive tree in a pleasant field, and grew up as a plane tree by the water. [15] I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aspalathus, and I yielded a pleasant odour like the best myrrh, as galbanum, and onyx, and sweet storax, and as the fume of frankincense in the tabernacle. [16] As the turpentine tree I stretched out my branches, and my branches are the branches of honour and grace.
[17] As the vine brought I forth pleasant savour, and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. [18] I am the mother of fair love, and fear, and knowledge, and holy hope: I therefore, being eternal, am given to all my children which are named of him. [19] Come unto me, all ye that be desirous of me, and fill yourselves with my fruits. [20] For my memorial is sweeter than honey, and mine inheritance than the honeycomb. [21] They that eat me shall yet be hungry, and they that drink me shall yet be thirsty. [22] He that obeyeth me shall never be confounded, and they that work by me shall not do amiss.
[23] All these things are the book of the covenant of the most high God, even the law which Moses commanded for an heritage unto the congregations of Jacob. [24] Faint not to be strong in the Lord; that he may confirm you, cleave unto him: for the Lord Almighty is God alone, and beside him there is no other Saviour. [25] He filleth all things with his wisdom, as Phison and as Tigris in the time of the new fruits. [26] He maketh the understanding to abound like Euphrates, and as Jordan in the time of the harvest. [27] He maketh the doctrine of knowledge appear as the light, and as Geon in the time of vintage.
[28] The first man knew her not perfectly: no more shall the last find her out. [29] For her thoughts are more than the sea, and her counsels profounder than the great deep. [30] I also came out as a brook from a river, and as a conduit into a garden. [31] I said, I will water my best garden, and will water abundantly my garden bed: and, lo, my brook became a river, and my river became a sea. [32] I will yet make doctrine to shine as the morning, and will send forth her light afar off. [33] I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and leave it to all ages for ever. [34] Behold that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all them that seek wisdom.
Chapter 25
[1] In three things I was beautified, and stood up beautiful both before God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of neighbours, a man and a wife that agree together.
[2] Three sorts of men my soul hateth, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poor man that is proud, a rich man that is a liar, and an old adulterer that doateth.
[3] If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, how canst thou find any thing in thine age?
[4] O how comely a thing is judgment for gray hairs, and for ancient men to know counsel! [5] O how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men of honour. [6] Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.
[7] There be nine things which I have judged in mine heart to be happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: A man that hath joy of his children; and he that liveth to see the fall of his enemy: [8] Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of understanding, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served a man more unworthy than himself: [9] Well is him that hath found prudence, and he that speaketh in the ears of them that will hear: [10] O how great is he that findeth wisdom! yet is there none above him that feareth the Lord. [11] But the love of the Lord passeth all things for illumination: he that holdeth it, whereto shall he be likened? [12] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith is the beginning of cleaving unto him.
[13] Give me any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman: [14] And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate me: and any revenge, but the revenge of enemies. [15] There is no head above the head of a serpent; and there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy.
[16] I had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon, than to keep house with a wicked woman. [17] The wickedness of a woman changeth her face, and darkeneth her countenance like sackcloth. [18] Her husband shall sit among his neighbours; and when he heareth it shall sigh bitterly. [19] All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman: let the portion of a sinner fall upon her.
[20] As the climbing up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man. [21] Stumble not at the beauty of a woman, and desire her not for pleasure. [22] A woman, if she maintain her husband, is full of anger, impudence, and much reproach. [23] A wicked woman abateth the courage, maketh an heavy countenance and a wounded heart: a woman that will not comfort her husband in distress maketh weak hands and feeble knees. [24] Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die. [25] Give the water no passage; neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad. [26] If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go.
Chapter 26
[1] Blessed is the man that hath a virtuous wife, for the number of his days shall be double. [2] A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and he shall fulfil the years of his life in peace. [3] A good wife is a good portion, which shall be given in the portion of them that fear the Lord. [4] Whether a man be rich or poor, if he have a good heart toward the Lord, he shall at all times rejoice with a cheerful countenance.
[5] There be three things that mine heart feareth; and for the fourth I was sore afraid: the slander of a city, the gathering together of an unruly multitude, and a false accusation: all these are worse than death. [6] But a grief of heart and sorrow is a woman that is jealous over another woman, and a scourge of the tongue which communicateth with all. [7] An evil wife is a yoke shaken to and fro: he that hath hold of her is as though he held a scorpion. [8] A drunken woman and a gadder abroad causeth great anger, and she will not cover her own shame. [9] The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and eyelids. [10] If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straitly, lest she abuse herself through overmuch liberty. [11] Watch over an impudent eye: and marvel not if she trespass against thee. [12] She will open her mouth, as a thirsty traveller when he hath found a fountain, and drink of every water near her: by every hedge will she sit down, and open her quiver against every arrow.
[13] The grace of a wife delighteth her husband, and her discretion will fatten his bones. [14] A silent and loving woman is a gift of the Lord; and there is nothing so much worth as a mind well instructed. [15] A shamefaced and faithful woman is a double grace, and her continent mind cannot be valued. [16] As the sun when it ariseth in the high he
aven; so is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house. [17] As the clear light is upon the holy candlestick; so is the beauty of the face in ripe age. [18] As the golden pillars are upon the sockets of silver; so are the fair feet with a constant heart.
[19] My son, keep the flower of thine age sound; and give not thy strength to strangers. [20] When thou hast gotten a fruitful possession through all the field, sow it with thine own seed, trusting in the goodness of thy stock. [21] So thy race which thou leavest shall be magnified, having the confidence of their good descent. [22] An harlot shall be accounted as spittle; but a married woman is a tower against death to her husband. [23] A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man: but a godly woman is given to him that feareth the Lord. [24] A dishonest woman contemneth shame: but an honest woman will reverence her husband. [25] A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog; but she that is shamefaced will fear the Lord. [26] A woman that honoureth her husband shall be judged wise of all; but she that dishonoureth him in her pride shall be counted ungodly of all. [27] A loud crying woman and a scold shall be sought out to drive away the enemies. [28] There be two things that grieve my heart; and the third maketh me angry: a man of war that suffereth poverty; and men of understanding that are not set by; and one that returneth from righteousness to sin; the Lord prepareth such an one for the sword. [29] A merchant shall hardly keep himself from doing wrong; and an huckster shall not be freed from sin.
Chapter 27
[1] Many have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away. [2] As a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones; so doth sin stick close between buying and selling. [3] Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown. [4] As when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth; so the filth of man in his talk. [5] The furnace proveth the potter’s vessels; so the trial of man is in his reasoning. [6] The fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed; so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.