18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour

Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble

Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. 20 As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon 1nitre,

1 Or, soda

So is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. 21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to Heb. he that

eat;

And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink :

22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD shall reward thee.

23 The north wind bringeth forth rain :

So doth a backbiting tongue an angry coun

tenance.

hateth thee.

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the See ch. xxi, housetop,

Than with a contentious woman in a wide
house.

25 As cold waters to a 'thirsty soul,

So is good news from a far country.

26 As a 'troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man that 'giveth way before

the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat much honey:

9.

4 Or, weary

5 Heb.
& Or, is moved
trampled.

6

7

"So for men to search out their own glory is not Or, But for glory.

8

28 He whose spirit is without restraint

men to search out their own

glory is glory The Hebrew

Is like a city that is broken down and hath no text is obscure. wall.

26 1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,

So honour is not seemly for a fool.

2 As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying,

So the curse that is causeless 'lighteth not. 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,

8 Or, He that hath no rule over his spirit

9 Heb. cometh not.

The Hebrew

text is obscure.

See ch. xxii.

13.

And a rod for the back of fools.

Answer not a fool according to his folly,
Lest thou also be like unto him.
Answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in 1his own conceit.

5

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a 6 fool

Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.

The legs of the lame hang loose :

So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
'As a bag of gems in a heap of stones,
So is he that giveth honour to a fool.

3

7

8

As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a 9 drunkard,

So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

As an archer that woundeth all,

So is he that hireth the fool and he that hireth them that pass by.

As a dog that returneth to his vomit,

So is a fool that repeateth his folly.

Seest thou a man wise in 'his own conceit ?
There is more hope of a fool than of him.

5

ΙΟ

I I

12

The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; 13
A lion is in the streets.

As the door turneth upon its hinges,

So doth the sluggard upon his bed.

* See ch. xix. The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish;

14

15

16.

It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
The sluggard is wiser in 'his own conceit
Than seven men that can "render a reason.
'He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with 17
strife belonging not to him,

Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
As a madman who casteth firebrands,
Arrows, and death;

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour,
And saith, Am not I in sport?

18

19

20 For lack of wood the fire goeth out :

And where there is no whisperer, contention
ceaseth.

21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire ;
So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 'The words of a whisperer are

morsels,

1

as dainty 1 See ch. xviii.

And they go down into the innermost parts of
the belly.

23 Fervent lips and a wicked heart

Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver
dross.

24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips,
But he layeth up deceit within him:

25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not;

For there are seven abominations in his heart: 26 Though his hatred cover itself with guile,

His wickedness shall be openly shewed before
the congregation.

27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:

And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon
him.

28 A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath

2 wounded;

And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

27 I Boast not thyself of to-morrow;

For thou knowest not what a day may bring
forth.

2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own
mouth; .

A stranger, and not thine own lips.

3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty;

But a fool's vexation is heavier than them both.

14 Wrath is cruel, and anger is 'outrageous; But who is able to stand before jealousy?

5 Better is open rebuke.

Than love that is hidden.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend:

8.

2 Heb. crushed.

3 Heb. a flood.

1 Heb. trampleth upon.

But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
The full soul 'loatheth an honeycomb :

But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is

sweet.

As a bird that wandereth from her nest,
So is a man that wandereth from his place.
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart:

So doth the sweetness of a man's friend that
cometh of hearty counsel.

7

8

9

Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, for- 10 sake not;

And go not to thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity :

Better is a neighbour that is near than a brother
far off.

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
That I may answer him that reproacheth me.

II

* See ch. xxii. A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth 12 himself:

3.

3 See ch. xx.

16.

4 Heb. hide.

Heb. hideth. • Or, the oint

ment of his right hand bewrayeth itself

7 Or, As water sheweth face

to face, so the heart sheweth man to man

But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

'Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; 13

And hold him in pledge that is surety for a

strange woman.

He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, 14 rising early in the morning,

It shall be counted a curse to him.

A continual dropping in a very rainy day

And a contentious woman are alike :

15

He that would 'restrain her "restraineth the wind, 16
And 'his right hand encountereth oil.

Iron sharpeneth iron;

So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his

friend.

17

Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit 18 thereof;

And he that waiteth on his master shall be

honoured.

"As in water face answereth to face,

19

So the heart of man to man.

20 1Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; And the eyes of man are never satisfied.

21 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold,

And a man is tried by his praise.

1 See ch. xv.

II.

2 Or, that

which he

22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar praiseth with a pestle among bruised corn,

Yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds:

24 For riches are not for ever;

And doth the crown endure unto all genera

tions?

Or, that whereof he boasteth

3

25 The 'hay is carried, and the tender grass sheweth 3 Heb. grass. itself,

And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.

26 The lambs are for thy clothing,

And the goats are the price of the field:

27 And there will be goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household;

And maintenance for thy maidens.

28 The wicked flee when no man pursueth :
But the righteous are bold as a lion.

2 For the transgression of a land many are the
princes thereof:

4

But by 'men of understanding and knowledge Or, a man the state thereof shall be prolonged.

3 A needy man that oppresseth the poor

Is like a sweeping rain 'which leaveth no food.
4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked:
But such as keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men understand not judgement:
But they that seek the LORD understand all
things.

6 "Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity,

Heb. without food.

6 See ch. xix.

I.