CHAPTER I.

way with them; refrain thy foot The design of the book. 8 An exhortation to fear from their path: God, 10 and lo avoid the enticements of the wick.

16 For their feet run to evil, and ed. 20 Wisdom reproveth the simple; 24 and solemnly warneth despisers.

make haste to shed blood. HE Proverbs of Solomon the son 17 Surely in vain the net is spread

of David, king of Israel ; in the sight of any bird. 2 To know wisdom and instruc 18 And they lay wait for their own tion; to perceive the words of un- blood; they lurk privily for their own derstanding;

lives. 3 To receive the instruction of 19 So are the ways of every one wisdom, justice, and judgment, and that is greedy of gain; which taketh equity;

away

the life of the owners thereof. 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to 20 Wisdom crieth without; she the young man knowledge and dis- uttereth her voice in the streets : cretion.

21 She crieth in the chief place of 5 A wise man will hear, and will concourse, in the openings of the increase learning; and a man of un- gates: in the city she uttereth her derstanding shall attain unto wise words, saying, counsels:

22 How long, ye simple ones, will 6 To understand a proverb, and the ye love simplicity? and the scorners interpretation; the words of the delight in their scorning, and fools wise, and their dark sayings. hate knowledge ?

7 The fear of the LORD is the be 23 Turn ye at my reproof: behold, ginning of knowledge: but fools I will pour out my spirit unto you, I despise wisdom and instruction. will make known my words unto you.

8 My son, hear the instruction of 24 Because I have called, and ye thy father, and forsake not the law refused; I have stretched out my of thy mother:

hand, and no man regarded ; 9 For they shall be an ornament 25 But ye have set at nought all of grace unto thy head, and chains my counsel, and would none of my about thy neck.

reproof: 10 My son, if sinners entice thee, 26 I also will laugh at your caconsent thou not.

lamity; I will mock when your fear 11 If they say, Come with us, let cometh ; us lay wait for blood, let us lurk 27 When your fear cometh as desoprivily for the innocent without lation, and your destruction cometh cause :

as a whirlwind; when distress and 12 Let us swallow them up alive anguish cometh upon you. as the grave; and whole, as those 28 Then shall they call upon me, that go down into the pit:

but I will not answer; they shall seek 13 We shall find all precious sub- me early, but they shall not find me: stance, we shall fill our houses with 29 For that they hated knowledge, spoil:

and did not choose the fear of the 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let LORD: os all have one purse:

30 They would none of my coun15 My son, walk not thou in the sel: they despised all my reproof.

The ways of wisdom. PROVERBS. The young instructed. correcteth; even as a father the son 31 Envy thou not the oppressor, in whom he delighteth.

and choose none of his ways. 13 Happy is the man that findeth 32 For the froward is abomination wisdom, and the man that getteth to the Lord: but his secret is with understanding :

the righteous.
14 For the merchandise of it is bet 33 The curse of the LORD is in the
ter than the merchandise of silver, house of the wicked: but he bless-
and the gain thereof than fine gold. eth the habitation of the just.

15 She is more precious than ru 34 Surely he scorneth the scorn-
bies : and all the things thou canst ers: but he giveth grace unto the
desire are not to be compared unto lowly.
her.

35 The wise shall inherit glory:
16 Length of days is in her right but shame shall be the promotion
hand; and in her left hand riches of fools.
and honour.

CHAPTER IV. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasant- Solomon persuadeth the young to obedience by ref: ness, and all her paths are peace.

erence lo the instruction of his parents ; 5 exhort

eth them to get wisdom; 14 to shun the path of 18 She is a tree of life to them that

the wicked ; 23 and to keep the heart with all lay hold upon her: and happy is diligence. every one that retaineth her.

EAR, ye children, the instruc

founded the earth, by understand know understanding.
ing hath he established the heavens. 2 For I give you good doctrine, for-

20 By his knowledge the depths sake ye not my law.
are broken up, and the clouds drop 3 For I was my father's son, ten-
down the dew.

der and only beloved in the sight of
21 My son, let not them depart my mother.
from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom 4 He taught me also, and said unto
and discretion :

me, Let thine heart retain my words: 22 So shall they be life unto thy keep my commandments, and live. soul, and grace to thy neck.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way forget it not; neither decline from safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. the words of my mouth.

24 When thou liest down, thou 6 Forsake her not, and she shall
shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt preserve thee: love her, and she
lie down, and thy sleep shall be shall keep thee.
sweet.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing;
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, therefore get wisdom: and with all
neither of the desolation of the wick- thy getting get understanding.
ed, when it cometh.

8 Exalt her, and she shall promote 26 For the Lord shall be thy con- thee: she shall bring thee to honour, fidence, and shall keep thy foot from when thou dost embrace her. being taken.

9 She shall give to thine head an 27 Withhold not good from them to ornament of grace: a crown of glowhom it is due, when it is in the ry shall she deliver to thee. power of thine hand to do it.

10 Hear, O my son, and receive 28 Say not unto thy neighbour, my sayings; and the years of thy Go, and come again, and to morrow life shall be many. I will give; when thou hast it by 11 I have taught thee in the way thee.

of wisdom; I have led thee in right 29 Devise not evil against thy paths. neighbour, seeing he dwelleth se 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall curely by thee.

not be straitened; and when thou 30 Strive not with a man without runnest, thou shalt not stumble. cause, if he have done thee no harm. 13 Take fast hold of instruction ;

Sundry cautions.

PROVERBS.

Filial obedience. CHAPTER VI.

20 My son, keep thy father's comCautions against suretiship, 6 idleness, 12 and mandment, and forsake not the law evil doing. 16 Seven things hateful to God. 20 An exhortation to filial obedience, 24 and to avoid of thy mother: the evils of lewduess.

21 Bind them continually upon Y son, if thou be surety for thy thine heart, and tie them about thy

friend, if thou hast stricken thy neck. hand with a stranger,

22 When thou goest, it shall lead 2 Thou art snared with the words thee; when thou sleepest, it shall of thy mouth, thou art taken with keep thee; and when thou awakest, the words of thy mouth.

it shall talk with thee. 3 Do this now, my son, and deliver 23 For the commandmentisa lamp; thyself, when thou art come into the and the law is light; and reproofs of hand of thy friend; go, humble thy- instruction are the way of life: self, and make sure thy friend. 24 To keep thee from the evil wo

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor man, from the flattery of the tongue slumber to thine eyelids.

of a strange woman, 5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the 25 Lust not after her beauty in hand of the hunter, and as a bird from thine heart; neither let her take thee the hand of the fowler.

with her eyelids. 6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; 26 For by means of a whorish wo consider her ways, and be wise: man a man is brought to a piece of

7 Which having no guide, overseer, bread: and the adulteress will hunt or ruler,

for the precious life.
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, 27 Can a man take fire in his bo-
and gathereth her food in the harvest. som, and his clothes not be burned ?

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O slug-) 28 Can one go upon hot coals, and
gard ? when wilt thou arise out of his feet not be burned?
thy sleep?

29 So he that goeth in to his neigh-
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, bour's wife; whosoever toucheth her
a little folding of the hands to sleep: shall not be innocent.
11 So shall thy poverty come as

30 Men do not despise a thief, if one that travelleth, and thy want as he steal to satisfy his soul when he an armed man.

is hungry;
12 A naughty person, a wicked 31 But if he be found, he shall re-
man, walketh with a froward mouth. store sevenfold; he shall give all the

13 He winketh with his eyes, he substance of his house,
speaketh with his feet, he teacheth 32 But whoso committeth adultery
with his fingers;

with a woman lacketh understand-
14 Frowardness is in his heart, he ing: he that doeth it destroyeth his
deviseth mischief continually; he own soul.
soweth discord.

33 A wound and dishonour shall 15 Therefore shall his calamity he get; and his reproach shall not come suddenly; suddenly shall he be wiped away. be broken without remedy.

34 For jealousy is the rage of a 16 These six things doth the LORD man: therefore he will not spare in hate; yea, seven are an abomina- the day of vengeance. tion unto him:

35 He will not regard any ransom; 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, neither will he rest content, though and hands that shed innocent blood, thou givest many gifts. 18 A heart that deviseth wicked

CHAPTER VII. imaginations, feet that be swift in An exhortation to keep the law, and thus avoid the running to mischief,

menticements of the slrange woman. 6 An instance

of a young man led astray. 24 The young ex19 A false witness that speaketh horted to avoid such snares.

Y among brethren.

my commandments with thec