one that is mightier and richer than thyself. What fellowship shall the
earthen pot have with the kettle? This shall smite, and that shall be
dashed in pieces.
The rich man doeth a wrong, and he threateneth withal: the poor is
wronged, and he shall intreat withal.
If thou be profitable, he will make merchandise of thee; and if thou be
in want, he will forsake thee.
If thou have substance, he will live with thee; and he will make thee
bare, and will not be sorry.
Hath he had need of thee? then he will deceive thee, and smile upon
thee, and give thee hope: he will speak thee fair, and say, What
needest thou?
And he will shame thee by his meats, until he have made thee bare twice
or thrice, and at the last he will laugh thee to scorn; afterward will
he see thee, and will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.
Beware that thou be not deceived, and brought low in thy mirth.
If a mighty man invite thee, be retiring, and so much the more will he
invite thee.
Press not upon him, lest thou be thrust back; and stand not far off,
lest thou be forgotten.
Affect not to speak with him as an equal, and believe not his many
words: for with much talk will he try thee, and in a smiling manner
will search thee out.
He that keepeth not to himself words spoken is unmerciful; and he will
not spare to hurt and to bind.
Keep them to thyself, and take earnest heed, for thou walkest in peril
of thy falling.
* * * * *
Every living creature loveth his like, and every man loveth his
neighbour.
All flesh consorteth according to kind, and a man will cleave to his
like.
What fellowship shall the wolf have with the lamb? So is the sinner
unto the godly.
What peace is there between the hyena and the dog? and what peace
between the rich man and the poor?
Wild asses are the prey of lions in the wilderness; so poor men are
pasture for the rich.
Lowliness is an abomination to a proud man; so a poor man is an
abomination to the rich.
* * * * *
A rich man when he is shaken is held up of his friends; but one of low
degree being down is thrust away also by his friends.
When a rich man is fallen, there are many helpers; he speaketh things
not to be spoken, and men justify him: a man of low degree falleth, and
men rebuke him withal; he uttereth wisdom, and no place is allowed him.
A rich man speaketh, and all keep silence; and what he saith they extol
to the clouds: a poor man speaketh, and they say, Who is this? and if
he stumble, they will help to overthrow him.
* * * * *
Riches are good that have no sin; and poverty is evil in the mouth of
the ungodly.
The heart of a man changeth his countenance, whether it be for good or
for evil.
A cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is in prosperity; and
the finding out of parables is a weariness of thinking.
=14= Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and is
not pricked with sorrow for sins.
Blessed is he whose soul doth not condemn him, and who is not fallen
from his hope.
* * * * *
Riches are not comely for a niggard; and what should an envious man do
with money?
He that gathereth by taking from his own soul gathereth for others; and
others shall revel in his goods.
He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and he shall not
rejoice in his possessions.
There is none more evil than he that envieth himself; and this is a
recompense of his wickedness.
Even if he doeth good, he doeth it in forgetfulness; and at the last he
sheweth forth his wickedness.
Evil is he that envieth with his eye, turning away the face, and
despising the souls of men.
A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion; and wicked
injustice drieth up his soul.
An evil eye is grudging of bread, and he is miserly at his table.
* * * * *
My son, according as thou hast, do well unto thyself, and bring
offerings unto the Lord worthily.
Remember that death will not tarry, and that the covenant of the grave
is not shewed unto thee.
Do well unto thy friend before thou die; and according to thy ability
stretch out thy hand and give to him.
Defraud not thyself of a good day; and let not the portion of a good
desire pass thee by.
Shalt thou not leave thy labours unto another? and thy toils to be
divided by lot?
Give, and take, and beguile thy soul; for there is no seeking of luxury
in the grave.
All flesh waxeth old as a garment; for the covenant from the beginning
is, Thou shalt die the death.
As of the leaves flourishing on a thick tree, some it sheddeth, and
some it maketh to grow; so also of the generations of flesh and blood,
one cometh to an end, and another is born.
Every work rotteth and falleth away, and the worker thereof shall
depart with it.
* * * * *
Blessed is the man that shall meditate in wisdom, and that shall
discourse by his understanding.
He that considereth her ways in his heart shall also have knowledge in
her secrets.
Go forth after her as one that tracketh, and lie in wait in her ways.
He that prieth in at her windows shall also hearken at her doors.
He that lodgeth close to her house shall also fasten a nail in her
walls.
He shall pitch his tent nigh at hand to her, and shall lodge in a
lodging where good things are.
He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall rest under her
branches.
By her he shall be covered from heat, and shall lodge in her glory.
=15= He that feareth the Lord will do this; and he that hath possession
of the law shall obtain her.
And as a mother shall she meet him, and receive him as a wife married
in her virginity.
With bread of understanding shall she feed him, and give him water of
wisdom to drink.
He shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be moved; and shall rely
upon her, and shall not be confounded.
And she shall exalt him above his neighbours; and in the midst of the
congregation shall she open his mouth.
He shall inherit joy, and a crown of gladness, and an everlasting name.
Foolish men shall not obtain her; and sinners shall not see her.
She is far from pride; and liars shall not remember her.
Praise is not comely in the mouth of a sinner; for it was not sent him
from the Lord.
For praise shall be spoken in wisdom; and the Lord will prosper it.
* * * * *
Say not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away; for thou shalt
not do the things that he hateth.
Say not thou, It is he that caused me to err; for he hath no need of a
sinful man.
The Lord hateth every abomination; and they that fear him love it not.
He himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his
own counsel.
If thou wilt, thou shalt keep the commandments; and to perform
faithfulness is of thine own good pleasure.
He hath set fire and water before thee: thou shalt stretch forth thy
hand unto whichsoever thou wilt.
Before man is life and death; and whichsoever he liketh, it shall be
given him.
For great is the wisdom of the Lord: he is mighty in power, and
beholdeth all things;
And his eyes are upon them that fear him; and he will take knowledge of
every work of man.
He hath not commanded any man to be ungodly; and he hath not given any
man licence to sin.
* * * * *
=16= Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight
in ungodly sons.
If they multiply, delight not in them, except the fear of the Lord be
with them.
Trust not thou in their life, neither rely on their condition: for one
is better than a thousand; and to die childless than to have ungodly
children.
For from one that hath understanding shall a city be peopled; but a
race of wicked men shall be made desolate.
Many such things have I seen with mine eyes; and mine ear hath heard
mightier things than these.
* * * * *
In the congregation of sinners shall a fire be kindled; and in a
disobedient nation wrath is kindled.
He was not pacified toward the giants of old time, who revolted in
their strength.
He spared not those with whom Lot sojourned, whom he abhorred for their
pride.
He pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in their
sins.
And in like manner the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered
together in the hardness of their hearts.
Even if there be one stiffnecked person, it is marvel if he shall be
unpunished: for mercy and wrath are with him; he is mighty to forgive,
and he poureth out wrath.
As his mercy is great, so is his correction also: he judgeth a man
according to his works.
The sinner shall not escape with his plunder; and the patience of the
godly shall not be frustrate.
He will make room for every work of mercy; each man shall find
according to his works.
* * * * *
Say not thou, I shall be hidden from the Lord; and who shall remember
me from on high? I shall not be known among so many people; for what is
my soul in a boundless creation?
Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, the deep, and the earth,
shall be moved when he shall visit.
The mountains and the foundations of the earth together are shaken with
trembling, when he looketh upon them.
And no heart shall think upon these things: and who shall conceive his
ways?
And there is a tempest which no man shall see; yea, the more part of
his works are hid.
Who shall declare the works of his righteousness? or who shall endure
them? For his covenant is afar off.
He that is wanting in understanding thinketh upon these things; and an
unwise and erring man thinketh follies.
My son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge, and give heed to my words
with thy heart.
I will shew forth instruction by weight, and declare knowledge exactly.
In the judgement of the Lord are his works from the beginning; and from
the making of them he disposed the parts thereof.
He garnished his works for ever, and the beginnings of them unto their
generations: they neither hunger, nor are weary, and they cease not
from their works.
No one thrusteth aside his neighbour; and they shall never disobey his
word.
After this also the Lord looked upon the earth, and filled it with his
blessings.
All manner of living things covered the face thereof; and into it is
their return.
* * * * *
=17= The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him back unto it
again.
He gave them days by number, and a set time, and gave them authority
over the things that are thereon.
He endued them with strength proper to them; and made them according to
his own image.
He put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him to have dominion
over beasts and fowls.
Counsel, and tongue, and eyes, ears, and heart, gave he them to
understand withal.
He filled them with the knowledge of wisdom, and shewed them good and
evil.
He set his eye upon their hearts, to shew them the majesty of his works.
And they shall praise the name of his holiness, that they may declare
the majesty of his works.
He added unto them knowledge, and gave them a law of life for a
heritage.
He made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them his
judgements.
Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory; and their ear heard the glory
of his voice.
And he said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave them
commandment, each man concerning his neighbour.
* * * * *
Their ways are ever before him; they shall not be hid from his eyes.
For every nation he appointed a ruler; and Israel is the Lord’s portion.
All their works are as the sun before him; and his eyes are continually
upon their ways.
Their iniquities are not hid from him; and all their sins are before
the Lord.
With him the alms of a man is as a signet; and he will keep the bounty
of a man as the apple of the eye.
Afterwards he will rise up and recompense them, and render their
recompense upon their head.
Howbeit unto them that repent he granteth a return; and he comforteth
them that are losing patience.
* * * * *
Return unto the Lord, and forsake sins: make thy prayer before his
face, and lessen the offence.
Turn again to the Most High, and turn away from iniquity; and greatly
hate the abominable thing.
Who shall give praise to the Most High in the grave, instead of them
which live and return thanks?
Thanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is not: he that
is in life and health shall praise the Lord.
How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness unto them that
turn unto him!
For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal.
What is brighter than the sun? yet this faileth: and an evil man will
think on flesh and blood.
He looketh upon the power of the height of heaven: and all men are
earth and ashes.
* * * * *
=18= He that liveth for ever created all things in common.
The Lord alone shall be justified.
To none hath he given power to declare his works: and who shall trace
out his mighty deeds?
Who shall number the strength of his majesty? and who shall also tell
out his mercies?
As for the wondrous works of the Lord, it is not possible to take from
them nor add to them, neither is it possible to track them out.
When a man hath finished, then he is but at the beginning; and when he
ceaseth, then shall he be in perplexity.
What is man, and whereto serveth he? What is his good, and what is his
evil?
The number of man’s days at the most are a hundred years.
As a drop of water from the sea, and a pebble from the sand; so are a
few years in the day of eternity.
For this cause the Lord was longsuffering over them, and poured out his
mercy upon them.
He saw and perceived their end, that it is evil; therefore he
multiplied his forgiveness.
The mercy of a man is upon his neighbour; but the mercy of the Lord is
upon all flesh; reproving, and chastening, and teaching, and bringing
again, as a shepherd doth his flock.
He hath mercy on them that accept chastening, and that diligently seek
after his judgements.
* * * * *
My son, to thy good deeds add no blemish; and no grief of words in any
of thy giving.
Shall not the dew assuage the scorching heat? So is a word better than
a gift.
Lo, is not a word better than a gift? And both are with a gracious man.
A fool will upbraid ungraciously; and the gift of an envious man
consumeth the eyes.
* * * * *
Learn before thou speak; and have a care of thy health or ever thou be
sick.
Before judgement examine thyself; and in the hour of visitation thou
shalt find forgiveness.
Humble thyself before thou be sick; and in the time of sins shew
repentance.
Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time; and wait not until
death to be justified.
Before thou makest a vow, prepare thyself; and be not as a man that
tempteth the Lord.
Think upon the wrath that shall be in the days of the end, and the
time of vengeance, when he turneth away his face.
In the days of fulness remember the time of hunger, and poverty and
want in the days of wealth.
From morning until evening the time changeth; and all things are speedy
before the Lord.
A wise man will fear in everything; and in days of sinning he will
beware of offence.
Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom; and he will give thanks unto
him that found her.
They that were of understanding in sayings became also wise themselves,
and poured forth apt proverbs.
* * * * *
Go not after thy lusts; and refrain thyself from thine appetites.
If thou give fully to thy soul the delight of her desire, she will make
thee the laughing-stock of thine enemies.
Make not merry in much luxury; neither be tied to the expense thereof.
Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou hast
nothing in thy purse.
* * * * *
=19= A workman that is a drunkard shall not become rich: he that
despiseth small things shall fall by little and little.
Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that
cleaveth to harlots will be the more reckless.
Moths and worms shall have him to heritage: and a reckless soul shall
be taken away.
* * * * *
He that is hasty to trust is lightminded; and he that sinneth shall
offend against his own soul.
He that maketh merry in his heart shall be condemned:
And he that hateth talk hath the less wickedness.
Never repeat what is told thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse.
Whether it be of friend or foe, tell it not; and unless it is a sin to
thee, reveal it not.
For he hath heard thee, and observed thee, and when the time cometh he
will hate thee.
Hast thou heard a word? let it die with thee: be of good courage, it
will not burst thee.
A fool will travail in pain with a word, as a woman in labour with a
child.
As an arrow that sticketh in the flesh of the thigh, so is a word in a
fool’s belly.
* * * * *
Reprove a friend; it may be he did it not: and if he did something,
that he may do it no more.
Reprove thy neighbour; it may be he said it not: and if he hath said
it, that he may not say it again.
Reprove a friend; for many times there is slander: and trust not every
word.
There is one that slippeth, and not from the heart: and who is he that
hath not sinned with his tongue?
Reprove thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and give place to the
law of the Most High.
* * * * *
All wisdom is the fear of the Lord; and in all wisdom is the doing of
the law.
And the knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom; and the prudence of
sinners is not counsel.
There is a wickedness, and the same is abomination; and there is a fool
wanting in wisdom.
Better is one that hath small understanding, and feareth, than one that
hath much prudence, and transgresseth the law.
There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is
one that perverteth favour to gain a judgement.
There is one that doeth wickedly, that hangeth down his head with
mourning; but inwardly he is full of deceit,
Bowing down his face, and making as if he were deaf of one ear: where
he is not known, he will be beforehand with thee.
And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, if he find
opportunity, he will do mischief.
A man shall be known by his look, and one that hath understanding shall
be known by his face, when thou meetest him.
A man’s attire, and grinning laughter, and gait, shew what he is.
* * * * *
=20= * * * There is a prosperity that a man findeth in misfortunes; and
there is a gain that turneth to loss.
There is a gift that shall not profit thee; and there is a gift whose
recompense is double.
There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that hath lifted
up his head from a low estate.
There is that buyeth much for a little, and payeth for it again
sevenfold.
He that is wise in words shall make himself beloved; but the
pleasantries of fools shall be wasted.
The gift of a fool shall not profit thee; for his eyes are many instead
of one.
He will give little, and upbraid much; and he will open his mouth like
a crier: to-day he will lend and to-morrow he will ask it again: such
an one is a hateful man.
The fool will say, I have no friend, and I have no thanks for my good
deeds; they that eat my bread are of evil tongue.
How oft, and of how many, shall he be laughed to scorn!
* * * * *
A slip on a pavement is better than a slip with the tongue; so the fall
of the wicked shall come speedily.
A man without grace is as a tale out of season; it will be continually
in the mouth of the ignorant.
A wise sentence from a fool’s mouth will be rejected; for he will not
speak it in its season.
* * * * *
There is that is hindered from sinning through want; and when he taketh
rest, he shall not be troubled.
There is that destroyeth his soul through bashfulness; and by a foolish
countenance he will destroy it.
There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend; and he maketh
him his enemy for nothing.
* * * * *
A lie is a foul blot in a man: it will be continually in the mouth of
the ignorant.
A thief is better than a man that is continually lying; but they both
shall inherit destruction.
The disposition of a liar is dishonour; and his shame is with him
continually.
He that is wise in words shall advance himself; and one that is prudent
will please great men.
He that tilleth his land shall raise his heap high; and he that
pleaseth great men shall get pardon for iniquity.
Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and as a muzzle on the
mouth, turn away reproofs.
Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is out of sight, what profit is
in them both?
Better is a man that hideth his folly than a man that hideth his wisdom.
* * * * *
=22= A slothful man is compared to a stone that is defiled; and every
one will hiss him out in his disgrace.
A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: every man that
taketh it up will shake out his hand.
* * * * *
A father hath shame in having begotten an uninstructed son; and a
foolish daughter is born to his loss.
A prudent daughter shall inherit a husband of her own; and she that
bringeth shame is the grief of him that begat her.
She that is bold bringeth shame upon father and husband; and she shall
be despised of them both.
Unseasonable discourse is as music in mourning; but stripes and
correction are wisdom at every season.
* * * * *
He that teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together; even
as one that waketh a sleeper out of a deep sleep.
He that discourseth to a fool is as one discoursing to a man that
slumbereth; and at the end he will say, What is it?
Weep for the dead, for light hath failed him; and weep for a fool, for
understanding hath failed him; weep more sweetly for the dead, because
he hath found rest; but the life of the fool is worse than death.
Seven days are the days of mourning for the dead; but for a fool and an
ungodly man, all the days of his life.
* * * * *
Talk not much with a foolish man, and go not to one that hath no
understanding: beware of him, lest thou have trouble; and so thou shalt
not be defiled in his onslaught: turn aside from him, and thou shalt
find rest; and so thou shalt not be wearied in his madness.
What shall be heavier than lead? And what is the name thereof, but a
fool?
Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, than a man
without understanding.
* * * * *
Timber girt and bound into a building shall not be loosed with shaking:
so a heart established in due season on well advised counsel shall not
be afraid.
A heart settled upon a thoughtful understanding is as an ornament of
plaister on a polished wall.
Pales set on a high place will not stand against the wind: so a fearful
heart in the imagination of a fool will not stand against any fear.
He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall; and he that pricketh
the heart maketh it to shew feeling.
Whoso casteth a stone at birds frayeth them away: and he that
upbraideth a friend will dissolve friendship.
If thou hast drawn a sword against a friend, despair not; for there may
be a returning.
If thou hast opened thy mouth against a friend, fear not; for there
may be a reconciling; except it be for upbraiding, and arrogance, and
disclosing of a secret, and a treacherous blow: for these things every
friend will flee.
* * * * *
Gain trust with thy neighbour in his poverty, that in his prosperity
thou mayest have gladness: abide stedfast unto him in the time of his
affliction, that thou mayest be heir with him in his inheritance.
Before fire is the vapour and smoke of a furnace; so revilings before
bloodshed.
I will not be ashamed to shelter a friend; and I will not hide myself
from his face:
And if any evil happen unto me because of him, every one that heareth
it will beware of him.
* * * * *
Who shall set a watch over my mouth, and a seal of shrewdness upon my
lips, that I fall not from it, and that my tongue destroy me not?
=23= O Lord, Father and Master of my life, abandon me not to their
counsel; suffer me not to fall by them.
Who will set scourges over my thought, and a discipline of wisdom over
mine heart? That they spare me not for mine ignorances, and my heart
pass not by their sins:
That mine ignorances be not multiplied, and my sins abound not; and I
shall fall before mine adversaries, and mine enemy rejoice over me.
O Lord, Father and God of my life, give me not a proud look,
And turn away concupiscence from me.
Let not greediness and chambering overtake me; and give me not over to
a shameless mind.
* * * * *
Hear ye, my children, the discipline of the mouth; and he that keepeth
it shall not be taken.
The sinner shall be overtaken in his lips; and the reviler and the
proud man shall stumble therein.
Accustom not thy mouth to an oath; and be not accustomed to the naming
of the Holy One.
For as a servant that is continually scourged shall not lack a bruise,
so he also that sweareth and nameth God continually shall not be
cleansed from sin.
A man of many oaths shall be filled with iniquity; and the scourge
shall not depart from his house: if he shall offend, his sin shall be
upon him; and if he disregard it, he hath sinned doubly; and if he hath
sworn in vain, he shall not be justified; for his house shall be filled
with calamities.
There is a manner of speech that is clothed about with death: let it
not be found in the heritage of Jacob; for all these things shall be
far from the godly, and they shall not wallow in sins.