sin.
Remember thy father and thy mother, for thou sittest in the midst of
great men; that thou be not forgetful before them, and become a fool by
thy custom; so shalt thou wish that thou hadst not been born, and curse
the day of thy nativity.
A man that is accustomed to words of reproach will not be corrected all
the days of his life.
* * * * *
Two sorts of men multiply sins, and the third will bring wrath: a hot
mind, as a burning fire, will not be quenched till it be consumed:
a fornicator in the body of his flesh will never cease till he hath
burned out the fire.
All bread is sweet to a fornicator: he will not leave off till he die.
A man that goeth astray from his own bed, saying in his heart, Who
seeth me? darkness is round about me, and the walls hide me, and no man
seeth me; of whom am I afraid? the Most High will not remember my sins;
--And the eyes of men are his terror, and he knoweth not that the eyes
of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun, beholding all
the ways of men, and looking into secret places.
All things were known unto him or ever they were created; and in like
manner also after they were perfected.
This man shall be punished in the streets of the city; and where he
suspected not he shall be taken.
* * * * *
=24= Wisdom shall praise herself, and shall glory in the midst of her
people.
In the congregation of the Most High shall she open her mouth, and
glory in the presence of his power.
I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth as
a mist.
I dwelt in high places, and my throne is in the pillar of the cloud.
Alone I compassed the circuit of heaven, and walked in the depth of the
abyss.
In the waves of the sea, and in all the earth, and in every people and
nation, I got a possession.
With all these I sought rest; and in whose inheritance shall I lodge?
Then the Creator of all things gave me a commandment; and he that
created me made my tabernacle to rest, and said, Let thy tabernacle be
in Jacob, and thine inheritance in Israel.
He created me from the beginning before the world; and to the end I
shall not fail.
In the holy tabernacle I ministered before him; and so was I
established in Sion.
In the beloved city likewise he gave me rest; and in Jerusalem was my
authority.
And I took root in a people that was glorified, even in the portion of
the Lord’s own inheritance.
I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree on the
mountains of Hermon.
I was exalted like a palm tree on the sea shore, and as rose plants in
Jericho, and as a fair olive tree in the plain; and I was exalted as a
plane tree.
As cinnamon and aspalathus, I have given a scent of perfumes; and as
choice myrrh, I spread abroad a pleasant odour; as galbanum, and onyx,
and stacte, and as the fume of frankincense in the tabernacle.
As the terebinth I stretched out my branches; and my branches are
branches of glory and grace.
As the vine I put forth grace; and my flowers are the fruit of glory
and riches.
Come unto me, ye that are desirous of me, and be filled with my produce.
For my memorial is sweeter than honey, and mine inheritance than the
honeycomb.
They that eat me shall yet be hungry; and they that drink me shall yet
be thirsty.
He that obeyeth me shall not be ashamed; and they that work in me shall
not do amiss.
* * * * *
All these things are the book of the covenant of the Most High
God, even the law which Moses commanded us for a heritage unto the
assemblies of Jacob.
It is he that maketh wisdom abundant, as Pishon, and as Tigris in the
days of new fruits;
That maketh understanding full as Euphrates, and as Jordan in the days
of harvest;
That maketh instruction to shine forth as the light, as Gihon in the
days of vintage.
The first man knew her not perfectly; and in like manner the last hath
not traced her out.
For her thoughts are filled from the sea, and her counsels from the
great deep.
* * * * *
And I came out as a stream from a river, and as a conduit into a garden.
I said, I will water my garden, and will water abundantly my garden
bed; and, lo, my stream became a river, and my river became a sea.
I will yet bring instruction to light as the morning, and will make
these things to shine forth afar off.
I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and leave it unto generations
of ages.
Behold that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all them that
diligently seek her.
* * * * *
=25= In three things I was beautified, and stood up beautiful
before the Lord and men: the concord of brethren, and friendship of
neighbours, and a woman and her husband that walk together in agreement.
But three sorts of men my soul hateth, and I am greatly offended at
their life: a poor man that is haughty, and a rich man that is a liar,
and an old man that is an adulterer lacking understanding.
* * * * *
In thy youth thou hast not gathered, and how shouldest thou find in
thine old age?
How beautiful a thing is judgement for gray hairs, and for elders to
know counsel!
How beautiful is the wisdom of old men, and thought and counsel to men
that are in honour!
Much experience is the crown of old men; and their glorying is the fear
of the Lord.
* * * * *
There be nine things that I have thought of, and in mine heart counted
happy; and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: a man that hath joy
of his children; a man that liveth and looketh upon the fall of his
enemies:
Happy is he that dwelleth with a wife of understanding; and he that
hath not slipped with his tongue; and he that hath not served a man
that is unworthy of him:
Happy is he that hath found prudence; and he that discourseth in the
ears of them that listen.
How great is he that hath found wisdom! yet is there none above him
that feareth the Lord.
The fear of the Lord passeth all things: he that holdeth it, to whom
shall he be likened?
* * * * *
Give me any plague but the plague of the heart; and any wickedness but
the wickedness of a woman;
Any calamity, but a calamity from them that hate me; and any vengeance,
but the vengeance of enemies.
There is no head above the head of a serpent; and there is no wrath
above the wrath of an enemy.
* * * * *
I will rather dwell with a lion and a dragon, than keep house with a
wicked woman.
The wickedness of a woman changeth her look, and darkeneth her
countenance as a bear doth.
Her husband shall sit at meat among his neighbours, and when he heareth
it he sigheth bitterly.
All malice is but little to the malice of a woman: let the portion of a
sinner fall on her.
As the going up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife
full of words to a quiet man.
Throw not thyself upon the beauty of a woman; and desire not a woman
for her beauty.
There is anger, and impudence, and great reproach, if a woman maintain
her husband.
A wicked woman is abasement of heart, and sadness of countenance, and a
wounded heart: a woman that will not make her husband happy is as hands
that hang down, and palsied knees.
From a woman was the beginning of sin; and because of her we all die.
Give not water an outlet; neither to a wicked woman freedom of speech.
If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh.
* * * * *
=26= Happy is the husband of a good wife; and the number of his days
shall be twofold.
A brave woman rejoiceth her husband; and he shall fulfil his years in
peace.
A good wife is a good portion: she shall be given in the portion of
such as fear the Lord.
Whether a man be rich or poor, a good heart maketh at all times a
cheerful countenance.
* * * * *
Of three things my heart was afraid; and concerning the fourth kind
I made supplication: the slander of a city, and the assembly of a
multitude, and a false accusation: all these are more grievous than
death.
A grief of heart and sorrow is a woman that is jealous of another
woman, and the scourge of a tongue communicating to all.
A wicked woman is as a yoke of oxen shaken to and fro: he that taketh
hold of her is as one that graspeth a scorpion.
A drunken woman causeth great wrath; and she will not cover her own
shame.
The whoredom of a woman is in the lifting up of her eyes; and it shall
be known by her eyelids.
Keep strict watch on a headstrong daughter, lest she find liberty for
herself, and use it.
Look well after an impudent eye; and marvel not if it trespass against
thee.
She will open her mouth, as a thirsty traveller, and drink of every
water that is near: at every post will she sit down, and open her
quiver against any arrow.
* * * * *
The grace of a wife will delight her husband; and her knowledge will
fatten his bones.
A silent woman is a gift of the Lord; and there is nothing so much
worth as a well-instructed soul.
A shamefast woman is grace upon grace; and there is no price worthy of
a continent soul.
As the sun when it ariseth in the highest places of the Lord, so is the
beauty of a good wife in the ordering of a man’s house.
As the lamp that shineth upon the holy candlestick, so is the beauty of
the face in ripe age.
As the golden pillars are upon a base of silver, so are beautiful feet
with the breasts of one that is stedfast.
* * * * *
For two things my heart is grieved; and for the third anger cometh upon
me: a man of war that suffereth for poverty; and men of understanding
that are counted as refuse: one that turneth back from righteousness to
sin; the Lord shall prepare him for the sword.
A merchant shall hardly keep himself from wrong doing; and a huckster
shall not be acquitted of sin.
=27= Many have sinned for a thing indifferent; and he that seeketh to
multiply gain will turn his eye away.
A nail will stick fast between the joinings of stones; and sin will
thrust itself in between buying and selling.
Unless a man hold on diligently in the fear of the Lord, his house
shall soon be overthrown.
* * * * *
In the shaking of a sieve, the refuse remaineth; so the filth of man in
his reasoning.
The furnace will prove the potter’s vessels; and the trial of a man is
in his reasoning.
The fruit of a tree declareth the husbandry thereof; so is the
utterance of the thought of the heart of a man.
Praise no man before thou hearest him reason; for this is the trial of
men.
* * * * *
If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her, and put her on,
as a long robe of glory.
Birds will resort unto their like; and truth will return unto them that
practise her.
The lion lieth in wait for prey; so doth sin for them that work
iniquity.
* * * * *
The discourse of a godly man is always wisdom: but the foolish man
changeth as the moon.
Among men void of understanding observe the opportunity; but stay
continually among the thoughtful.
The discourse of fools is an offence; and their laughter is in the
wantonness of sin.
The talk of a man of many oaths will make the hair stand upright; and
their strife maketh one stop his ears.
The strife of the proud is a shedding of blood; and their reviling of
each other is a grievous thing to hear.
* * * * *
He that revealeth secrets destroyeth credit, and shall not find a
friend to his mind.
Love a friend, and keep faith with him; but if thou reveal his secrets,
thou shalt not pursue after him;
For as a man hath destroyed his enemy, so hast thou destroyed the
friendship of thy neighbour.
And as a bird which thou hast loosed out of thy hand, so hast thou let
thy neighbour go, and thou wilt not catch him again:
Pursue him not, for he is gone far away, and hath escaped as a gazelle
out of the snare.
For a wound may be bound up, and after reviling there may be a
reconcilement; but he that revealeth secrets hath lost hope.
* * * * *
One that winketh with the eye contriveth evil things; and no man will
remove him from it.
When thou art present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire thy
words; but afterward he will writhe his mouth, and set a trap for thee
in thy words.
I have hated many things, but nothing like him; and the Lord will hate
him.
One that casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head; and a
deceitful stroke will open wounds.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and he that setteth a snare
shall be taken therein.
He that doeth evil things, they shall roll upon him, and he shall not
know whence they have come to him.
Mockery and reproach are from the haughty; and vengeance, as a lion,
shall lie in wait for him.
They that rejoice at the fall of the godly shall be taken in a snare;
and anguish shall consume them before they die.
* * * * *
Wrath and anger, these also are abominations; and a sinful man shall
possess them.
=28= He that taketh vengeance shall find vengeance from the Lord; and
he will surely make firm his sins.
Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done thee; and then thy
sins shall be pardoned when thou prayest.
Man cherisheth anger against man; and doth he seek healing from the
Lord?
Upon a man like himself he hath no mercy; and doth he make supplication
for his own sins?
He being himself flesh nourisheth wrath: who shall make atonement for
his sins?
Remember thy last end, and cease from enmity: remember corruption and
death, and abide in the commandments.
Remember the commandments, and be not wroth with thy neighbour; and
remember the covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance.
Abstain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins; for a passionate
man will kindle strife;
And a man that is a sinner will trouble friends, and will make debate
among them that be at peace.
As is the fuel of the fire, so will it burn; and as the stoutness of
the strife is, so will it burn: as is the strength of the man, so will
be his wrath; and as is his wealth, so will he exalt his anger.
A contention begun in haste kindleth a fire; and a hasty fighting
sheddeth blood.
If thou blow a spark, it shall burn; and if thou spit upon it, it shall
be quenched: and both these shall come out of thy mouth.
* * * * *
Curse the whisperer and double-tongued: for he hath destroyed many that
were at peace.
A third person’s tongue hath shaken many, and dispersed them from
nation to nation; and it hath pulled down strong cities, and overthrown
the houses of great men.
A third person’s tongue hath cast out brave women, and deprived them of
their labours.
He that hearkeneth unto it shall not find rest, nor shall he dwell
quietly.
The stroke of a whip maketh a mark in the flesh; but the stroke of a
tongue will break bones.
Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: yet not so many as they that
have fallen because of the tongue.
Happy is he that is sheltered from it, that hath not passed through the
wrath thereof; that hath not drawn its yoke, and hath not been bound
with its bands.
For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands
of brass.
The death thereof is an evil death; and Hades were better than it.
It shall not have rule over godly men; and they shall not be burned in
its flame.
They that forsake the Lord shall fall into it; and it shall burn among
them, and shall not be quenched; it shall be sent forth upon them as a
lion; and as a leopard it shall destroy them.
Look that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns; bind up thy
silver and thy gold;
And make a balance and a weight for thy words; and make a door and a
bar for thy mouth.
Take heed lest thou slip therein; lest thou fall before one that lieth
in wait.
* * * * *
=29= He that sheweth mercy will lend unto his neighbour; and he that
strengtheneth him with his hand keepeth the commandments.
Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need; and pay thou thy neighbour
again in due season.
Confirm thy word, and keep faith with him; and at all seasons thou
shalt find what thou needest.
Many have reckoned a loan as a windfall, and have given trouble to
those that helped them.
Till he hath received, he will kiss a man’s hands; and for his
neighbour’s money he will speak submissly: and when payment is due, he
will prolong the time, and return words of heaviness, and complain of
the times.
If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half; and he will count it
as a windfall: if not, he hath deprived him of his money, and he hath
gotten him for an enemy without cause: he will pay him with cursings
and railings; and for honour he will pay him disgrace.
Many on account of men’s ill-dealing have turned away; they have feared
to be defrauded for nought.
Howbeit with a man in poor estate be longsuffering; and let him not
wait for thine alms.
Help a poor man for the commandment’s sake; and according to his need
send him not empty away.
Lose thy money for a brother and a friend; and let it not rust under
the stone to be lost.
Bestow thy treasure according to the commandments of the Most High; and
it shall profit thee more than gold.
Shut up alms in thy store-chambers; and it shall deliver thee out of
all affliction:
It shall fight for thee against thine enemy better than a mighty shield
and a ponderous spear.
* * * * *
A good man will be surety for his neighbour; and he that hath lost
shame will fail him.
Forget not the good offices of thy surety; for he hath given his life
for thee.
A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety;
And he that is of an unthankful mind will fail him that delivered him.
Suretiship hath undone many that were prospering, and shaken them as a
wave of the sea: mighty men hath it driven from their homes; and they
wandered among strange nations.
A sinner that falleth into suretiship, and undertaketh contracts for
work, shall fall into lawsuits.
Help thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to thyself
that thou fall not to the same.
* * * * *
The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and a garment, and a
house to cover shame.
Better is the life of a poor man under a shelter of logs, than
sumptuous fare in another man’s house.
With little or with much, be well satisfied.
It is a miserable life to go from house to house: and where thou art a
sojourner, thou shalt not dare to open thy mouth.
Thou shalt entertain, and give to drink, and have no thanks: and
besides this thou shalt hear bitter words.
Come hither, thou sojourner, furnish a table, and if thou hast aught in
thy hand, feed me with it.
Go forth, thou sojourner, from the face of honour; my brother is come
to be my guest; I have need of my house.
These things are grievous to a man of understanding; the upbraiding of
house-room, and the reproaching of the money-lender.
* * * * *
=30= He that loveth his son will continue to lay stripes upon him, that
he may have joy of him in the end.
He that chastiseth his son shall have profit of him, and shall glory of
him among his acquaintance.
He that teacheth his son shall provoke his enemy to jealousy; and
before friends he shall rejoice of him.
His father dieth, and is as though he had not died; for he hath left
one behind him like himself.
In his life, he saw and rejoiced in him; and when he died, he sorrowed
not:
He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one to requite
kindness to his friends.
He that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his wounds; and his
heart will be troubled at every cry.
An unbroken horse becometh stubborn; and a son left at large becometh
headstrong.
Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he
will grieve thee.
Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him; and thou shalt
gnash thy teeth in the end.
Give him no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his follies.
Bow down his neck in his youth, and beat him on the sides while he is
a child, lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient unto thee; and there
shall be sorrow to thy soul.
Chastise thy son, and take pains with him, lest his shameless behaviour
be an offence unto thee.
* * * * *
Better is a poor man, being sound and strong of constitution, than a
rich man that is plagued in his body.
Health and a good constitution are better than all gold; and a strong
body than wealth without measure.
There is no riches better than health of body; and there is no gladness
above the joy of the heart.
Death is better than a bitter life, and eternal rest than a continual
sickness.
Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed are as messes of
meat laid upon a grave.
What doth an offering profit an idol? for neither shall it eat nor
smell: so is he that is afflicted of the Lord,
Seeing with his eyes and groaning.
* * * * *
Give not over thy soul to sorrow; and afflict not thyself in thine own
counsel.
Gladness of heart is the life of a man; and the joyfulness of a man is
length of days.
Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart: and remove sorrow far from
thee; for sorrow hath destroyed many, and there is no profit therein.
Envy and wrath shorten a man’s days; and care bringeth old age before
the time.
A cheerful and good heart will have a care of his meat and diet.
=31= Wakefulness that cometh of riches consumeth the flesh, and the
anxiety thereof putteth away sleep.
Wakeful anxiety will crave slumber; and in sore disease sleep will be
broken.
* * * * *
A rich man toileth in gathering money together; and when he resteth, he
is filled with his good things.
A poor man toileth in lack of substance; and when he resteth, he
becometh needy.
He that loveth gold shall not be justified; and he that followeth
destruction shall himself have his fill of it.
Many have been given over to ruin for the sake of gold; and their
perdition meeteth them face to face.
It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it; and every fool
shall be taken therewith.
Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and that goeth not
after gold.
Who is he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things hath he
done among his people.
Who hath been tried thereby, and found perfect? Then let him glory. Who
hath had the power to transgress, and hath not transgressed? And to do
evil, and hath not done it?
His goods shall be made sure, and the congregation shall declare his
alms.
Sittest thou at a great table? be not greedy upon it, and say not, Many
are the things upon it.
Remember that an evil eye is a wicked thing: what hath been created
more evil than an eye? therefore it sheddeth tears from every face.
Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and trust not thyself
with it into the dish.
Consider thy neighbour’s liking by thine own; and be discreet in every
point.
Eat, as becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; and eat
not greedily, lest thou be hated.
Be first to leave off for manners’ sake; and be not insatiable, less
thou offend.
And if thou sittest among many, reach not out thy hand before them.
How sufficient to a well-mannered man is a very little, and he doth not
breathe hard upon his bed.
Healthy sleep cometh of moderate eating; he riseth early, and his wits
are with him; the pain of wakefulness, and colic, and griping, are with
an insatiable man.
And if thou hast been forced to eat, rise up in the midst thereof, and
thou shalt have rest.
Hear me, my son, and despise me not, and at the last thou shall find my
words true: in all thy works be quick, and no disease shall come unto
thee.
* * * * *
Him that is liberal of his meat the lips shall bless; and the testimony
of his excellence shall be believed.
Him that is a niggard of his meat the city shall murmur at; and the
testimony of his niggardness shall be sure.
* * * * *
Shew not thyself valiant in wine; for wine hath destroyed many.
The furnace proveth the temper of steel by dipping; so doth wine prove
hearts in the quarrelling of the proud.
Wine is as good as life to men, if thou drink it in its measure: what
life is there to a man that is without wine? and it hath been created
to make men glad.
Wine drunk in season and to satisfy is joy of heart, and gladness of
soul:
Wine drunk largely is bitterness of soul, with provocation and conflict.
Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool unto his hurt; it diminisheth
strength, and addeth wounds.
* * * * *
Rebuke not thy neighbour at a banquet of wine, neither set him at
nought in his mirth: speak not unto him a word of reproach, and press
not upon him by asking back a debt.
=32= Have they made thee ruler of a feast? be not lifted up, be thou
among them as one of them; take thought for them, and so sit down.
And when thou hast done all thy office, take thy place, that thou
mayest be gladdened on their account, and receive a crown for thy well
ordering.
* * * * *
Speak, thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee, but with sound
knowledge; and hinder not music.
Pour not out talk where there is a performance of music, and display
not thy wisdom out of season.
As a signet of carbuncle in a setting of gold, so is a concert of music
in a banquet of wine.
As a signet of emerald in a work of gold, so is a strain of music with
pleasant wine.
* * * * *
Speak, young man, if there be need of thee; yet scarcely if thou be
twice asked.
Sum up thy speech, many things in few words; be as one that knoweth and
yet holdeth his tongue.