Lessons for superiors and inferiors. Advantages of fearing God, and
doing nothing without counsel.
32:1. Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one
of them.
32:2. Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted
thyself of all thy charge, take thy place:
32:3. That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an
ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.
32:4. Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,
32:5. To speak the first word with careful knowledge, and hinder not
music.
32:6. Where there is no hearing, pour not out words, and be not lifted
up out of season with thy wisdom.
32:7. A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a carbuncle set in
gold.
32:8. As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of
music with pleasant and moderate wine.
32:9. Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to
thee.
32:10. Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.
32:11. If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.
32:12. In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence
and withal seeking.
32:13. In the company of great men take not upon thee: and when the
ancients are present, speak not much.
32:14. Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth
favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.
32:15. And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home
to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.
32:16. And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech.
32:17. And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that
replenisheth thee with all his good things.
32:18. He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they
that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.
32:19. He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that
dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein.
32:20. They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall
kindle justice as a light.
32:21. A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according
to his will.
32:22. A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and
proud man will not dread fear:
32:23. Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be
controlled by the things of his own seeking.
32:24. My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not
repent when thou hast done.
32:25. Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the
stones: trust not thyself to a rugged way, lest thou set a
stumblingblock to thy soul.
32:26. And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy
household.
32:27. In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the
keeping of the commandments.
In faith... That is, follow sincerely thy soul in her faith and
conscience.
32:28. He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he
that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.