1 Or, sum

Nor the 'beginning of the dust of the world.

28

2 Or, prepared When he established the heavens, I was there: 27
When he set a circle upon the face of the deep:
When he made firm the skies above:
When the fountains of the deep became strong:
When he gave to the sea 3its bound,

3 Or, his decree

4 Or, appointed

5 Or, had delight

continually

6

That the waters should not transgress his com-
mandment:

When he 'marked out the foundations of the

earth:

Then I was by him, as a master workman:
And I was daily his delight,
"Rejoicing always before him;

"Or, Sporting Rejoicing in his habitable earth;

And my delight was with the sons of men.
Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me:
For blessed are they that keep my ways.
Hear instruction, and be wise,
And refuse it not.

Blessed is the man that heareth me,

Watching daily at my gates,

Waiting at the posts of my doors.

For whoso findeth me findeth life,

And shall obtain favour of the LORD.

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his 36

own soul:

All they that hate me love death.

Wisdom hath builded her house,

She hath hewn out her seven pillars:

She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled

her wine;

She hath also furnished her table.

I 9

2

She hath sent forth her maidens, she crieth
Upon the highest places of the city,

3

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither:

4

As for him that is void of understanding, she
saith to him,

5 Come, eat ye of my bread,

And drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 1Leave off, ye simple ones, and live;

And walk in the way of understanding.

7 He that correcteth a scorner getteth to himself shame:

And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee:

Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:

Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

II For by me thy days shall be multiplied,

And the years of thy life shall be increased. 12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself: And if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

13 The foolish woman is clamorous;

She is 'simple, and knoweth nothing.

14 And she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call to them that pass by,

Who go right on their ways,

16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither:

And as for him that is void of understanding,

she saith to him,

17 Stolen waters are sweet,

And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

1 Or, Forsake the simple

2 Or, Folly

3 Heb. simplicity.

18 But he knoweth not that "the dead are 4 Or, the

there;

That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

shades

Heb.
Rephaim.

1 Or, a son
that doeth
wisely

2 Or, that
doeth
shamefully
8 Or, the mouth
of the wicked

covereth
violence

4 Heb. the

I 10

The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son maketh a glad father:

But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing:
But righteousness delivereth from death.

2

The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous 3 to famish:

But he thrusteth away the desire of the wicked.
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack 4
hand:

But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
He that gathereth in summer is 'a wise son:
But he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that
causeth shame.

Blessings are upon the head of the righteous:
But 'violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
The memory of the just is blessed :

But the name of the wicked shall rot.

5

6

7

The wise in heart will receive commandments: 8
But 'a prating fool 'shall fall.

foolish of lips. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely:

5 Or, shall be
overthrown
or laid low

6 The Sept.

and Syr, read,

But he that

rebuketh openly maketh peace.

7 Heb. heart.

But he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow:
But 'a prating fool 'shall fall.

9

ΙΟ

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of 11
life:

But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Hatred stirreth up strifes :

But love covereth all transgressions.

12

In the lips of him that hath discernment wis- 13
dom is found:

But a rod is for the back of him that is void of
"understanding.

Wise men lay up knowledge:

But the mouth of the foolish is a present
destruction.

The rich man's wealth is his strong city:

14

15

The destruction of the poor is their poverty. 16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life;

The increase of the wicked to sin.

1

17 He 'is in the way of life that heedeth 'correc- Or, is a way

tion:

But he that forsaketh reproof 3erreth.

18 He that hideth hatred is of lying lips ; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression:

But he that refraineth his lips 'doeth wisely. 20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver : The heart of the wicked is little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many:

But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich,
And he addeth no sorrow therewith.

23 It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness:
'And so is wisdom to a man of understand-
ing.

24

The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: And the desire of the righteous shall granted.

25 When the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is

more

2 Or,

instruction

3 Or, causeth to err

4 Or, is wise

Heb. heart.

6 Or, toil
addeth

nothing
thereto
7 Or, But a
man of under-
standing hath
wisdom

be

no

8

But the righteous is an everlasting foundation. 26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the

eyes,

So is the sluggard to them that send him. 27 The fear of the LORD 'prolongeth days:

But the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness:

But the expectation of the wicked shall perish. 29 The way of the LORD is a strong hold to the upright;

Or, As the

whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no

more

9 Heb. addeth.

But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. 10 Or,

30 The righteous shall never be removed:

But the wicked shall not dwell in the "land.

destruction shall be to &c.

11 Or, earth

1 Or, buddeth The mouth of the righteous 'bringeth forth 31

with

2 Or, is

8 Heb. A balance of deceit.

4 Or, make
straight
or plain

6 Or, strong

men

wisdom:

But the froward tongue shall be cut off.

The lips of the righteous know what is accept- 32 able:

3

But the mouth of the wicked speaketh froward

ness.

A false balance is an abomination to the LORD: I 11
But a just weight is his delight.

When pride cometh, then cometh shame:

But with the lowly is wisdom.

The integrity of the upright shall guide them:
But the perverseness of the treacherous shall
destroy them.

Riches profit not in the day of wrath:

But righteousness delivereth from death.

2

3

4

But they that deal treacherously shall be taken
in their own mischief.

When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall 7
perish :

And the hope of iniquity perisheth.

The righteous is delivered out of trouble,

And the wicked cometh in his stead.

8

With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his 9
neighbour:

But through knowledge shall the righteous be
delivered.

When it goeth well with the righteous, the city 10
rejoiceth:

And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
By the blessing of the upright the city is II
exalted: