is speaking, make not much babbling.
Before thunder speedeth lightning; and before a shamefast man favour
shall go forth.
Rise up betimes, and not be the last; get thee home quickly and loiter
not:
There take thy pastime, and do what is in thy heart; and sin not by
proud speech;
And for these things bless him that made thee, and giveth thee to drink
freely of his good things.
He that feareth the Lord will receive his discipline; and they that
seek him early shall find favour.
He that seeketh the law shall be filled therewith: but the hypocrite
shall stumble thereat.
They that fear the Lord shall find judgement, and shall kindle
righteous acts as a light.
A sinful man shunneth reproof, and will find a judgement according to
his will.
* * * * *
A man of counsel will not neglect a thought; a strange and proud man
will not crouch in fear, even after he hath done a thing by himself
without counsel.
Do nothing without counsel; and when thou hast once done, repent not.
Go not in a way of conflict; and stumble not in stony places.
Be not confident in a smooth way.
And beware of thine own children.
In every work trust thine own soul; for this is the keeping of the
commandments.
* * * * *
He that believeth the law giveth heed to the commandment; and he that
trusteth in the Lord shall suffer no loss.
=33= There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in
temptation once and again will he deliver him.
A wise man will not hate the law; but he that is a hypocrite therein is
as a ship in a storm.
A man of understanding will put his trust in the law; and the law is
faithful unto him, as when one asketh at the oracle.
Prepare thy speech, and so shalt thou be heard; bind up instruction,
and make thine answer.
The heart of a fool is as a cartwheel; and his thoughts like a rolling
axle-tree.
A stallion horse is as a mocking friend; he neigheth under every one
that sitteth upon him.
* * * * *
Why doth one day excel another, when all the light of every day in the
year is of the sun?
By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished; and he varied
seasons and feasts:
Some of them he exalted and hallowed, and some of them hath he made
ordinary days.
And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth.
In the abundance of his knowledge the Lord distinguished them, and made
their ways various:
Some of them he blessed and exalted, and some of them he hallowed and
brought nigh to himself: some of them he cursed and brought low, and
overthrew them from their place.
As the clay of the potter in his hand, all his ways are according to
his good pleasure; so men are in the hand of him that made them, to
render unto them according to his judgement.
Good is set over against evil, and life over against death: so is the
sinner over against the godly.
And thus look upon all the works of the Most High; two and two, one
against another.
* * * * *
And I awaked up last, as one that gleaneth after the grape-gatherers:
by the blessing of the Lord I got before them, and filled my winepress
as one that gathereth grapes.
Consider that I laboured not for myself alone, but for all them that
seek instruction.
Hear me, ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye
rulers of the congregation.
* * * * *
To son and wife, to brother and friend, give not power over thee while
thou livest; and give not thy goods to another, lest thou repent and
make supplication for them again.
Whilst thou yet livest, and breath is in thee, give not thyself over to
anybody.
For better it is that thy children should supplicate thee, than that
thou shouldest look to the hand of thy sons.
In all thy works keep the upper hand; bring not a stain on thine honour.
In the day that thou endest the days of thy life, and in the time of
death, distribute thine inheritance.
* * * * *
Fodder, a stick, and burdens, for an ass; bread, and discipline, and
work, for a servant.
Set thy servant to work, and thou shalt find rest: leave his hands
idle, and he will seek liberty.
Yoke and thong will bow the neck: and for an evil servant there are
racks and tortures.
Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much
mischief.
Set him to work, as is fit for him; and if he obey not, make his
fetters heavy.
And be not excessive toward any; and without judgement do nothing.
If thou hast a servant, let him be as thyself, because thou hast bought
him with blood.
If thou hast a servant, treat him as thyself; for as thine own soul
wilt thou have need of him: if thou treat him ill, and he depart and
run away, which way wilt thou go to seek him?
* * * * *
=34= Vain and false hopes are for a man void of understanding; and
dreams give wings to fools.
As one that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind, so is he
that setteth his mind on dreams.
The vision of dreams is as this thing against that, the likeness of a
face over against a face.
Of an unclean thing what shall be cleansed? and of that which is false
what shall be true?
Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the heart
fancieth, as a woman’s in travail.
If they be not sent from the Most High in thy visitation, give not thy
heart unto them.
For dreams have led many astray: and they have failed by putting their
hope in them.
Without lying shall the law be accomplished; and wisdom is perfection
to a faithful mouth.
* * * * *
A well-instructed man knoweth many things; and he that hath much
experience will declare understanding.
He that hath no experience knoweth few things: but he that hath
wandered shall increase his skill.
In my wandering I have seen many things; and more than my words is my
understanding.
Ofttimes was I in danger even unto death; and I was preserved because
of these things.
The spirit of those that fear the Lord shall live; for their hope is
upon him that saveth them.
Whoso feareth the Lord shall not be afraid, and shall not play the
coward; for he is his hope.
Blessed is the soul of him that feareth the Lord: to whom doth he give
heed? and who is his stay?
The eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him, a mighty protection
and strong stay, a cover from the hot blast, and a cover from the
noonday, a guard from stumbling, and a succour from falling.
He raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes: he giveth healing,
life, and blessing.
* * * * *
He that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is made
in mockery; and the mockeries of wicked men are not well-pleasing.
The Most High hath no pleasure in the offerings of the ungodly; neither
is he pacified for sins by the multitude of sacrifices.
As one that killeth the son before his father’s eyes is he that
bringeth a sacrifice from the goods of the poor.
The bread of the needy is the life of the poor: he that depriveth him
thereof is a man of blood.
As one that slayeth his neighbour is he that taketh away his living;
and as a shedder of blood is he that depriveth a hireling of his hire.
One building, and another pulling down, what profit have they had but
toil?
One praying, and another cursing, whose voice will the Lord listen to?
He that washeth himself after touching a dead body, and toucheth it
again, what profit hath he in his washing?
Even so a man fasting for his sins, and going again, and doing the
same; who will listen to his prayer? and what profit hath he in his
humiliation?
* * * * *
=37= Every friend will say, I also am his friend: but there is a
friend, which is only a friend in name.
Is there not a grief in it even unto death, when a companion and friend
is turned to enmity?
O wicked imagination, whence camest thou rolling in to cover the dry
land with deceitfulness?
There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the gladness of a friend, but
in time of affliction will be against him.
There is a companion, which for the belly’s sake laboureth with his
friend, in the face of battle will take up the buckler.
Forget not a friend in thy soul; and be not unmindful of him in thy
riches.
* * * * *
Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is that counselleth for
himself.
Let thy soul beware of a counsellor, and know thou before what is his
interest (for he will take counsel for himself); lest he cast the lot
upon thee,
And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and he will stand over against
thee, to see what shall befall thee.
Take not counsel with one that looketh askance at thee; and hide thy
counsel from such as are jealous of thee.
Take not counsel with a woman about her rival; neither with a coward
about war; nor with a merchant about exchange; nor with a buyer about
selling; nor with an envious man about thankfulness; nor with an
unmerciful man about kindliness; nor with a sluggard about any kind of
work; nor with a hireling in thy house about finishing his work; nor
with an idle servant about much business: give not heed to these in any
matter of counsel.
But rather be continually with a godly man, whom thou shalt have known
to be a keeper of the commandments, who in his soul is as thine own
soul, and who will grieve with thee, if thou shalt miscarry.
And make the counsel of thy heart to stand; for there is none more
faithful unto thee than it.
For a man’s soul is sometime wont to bring him tidings, more than seven
watchmen that sit on high on a watch-tower.
And above all this intreat the Most High, that he may direct thy way in
truth.
* * * * *
Let reason be the beginning of every work, and let counsel go before
every action.
As a token of the changing of the heart, four manner of things do rise
up, good and evil, life and death; and that which ruleth over them
continually is the tongue.
There is one that is shrewd and the instructor of many, and yet is
unprofitable to his own soul.
There is one that is subtil in words, and is hated; he shall be
destitute of all food:
For grace was not given him from the Lord; because he is deprived of
all wisdom.
There is one that is wise to his own soul; and the fruits of his
understanding are trustworthy in the mouth.
A wise man will instruct his own people; and the fruits of his
understanding are trustworthy.
A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him
shall call him happy.
The life of man is numbered by days; and the days of Israel are
innumerable.
The wise man shall inherit confidence among his people, and his name
shall live for ever.
* * * * *
My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and
give not that unto it.
For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul
pleasure in every thing.
Be not insatiable in any luxury, and be not greedy on the things that
thou eatest.
For in multitude of meats there shall be disease, and surfeiting shall
come nigh unto colic.
Because of surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed shall
prolong his life.
* * * * *
=38= Honour a physician according to thy need of him with the honours
due unto him: for verily the Lord hath created him.
For from the Most High cometh healing; and from the king he shall
receive a gift.
The skill of the physician shall lift up his head; and in the sight of
great men he shall be admired.
The Lord created medicines out of the earth; and a prudent man will
have no disgust at them.
Was not water made sweet with wood, that the virtue thereof might be
known?
And he gave men skill, that they might be glorified in his marvellous
works.
With them doth he heal a man, and taketh away his pain.
With these will the apothecary make a confection; and his works shall
not be brought to an end; and from him is peace upon the face of the
earth.
* * * * *
My son, in thy sickness be not negligent; but pray unto the Lord, and
he shall heal thee.
Put away wrong doing, and order thine hands aright, and cleanse thy
heart from all manner of sin.
Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour; and make fat thine
offering, as one that is not.
Then give place to the physician, for verily the Lord hath created him;
and let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.
There is a time when in their very hands is the issue for good.
For they also shall beseech the Lord, that he may prosper them in
giving relief and in healing for the maintenance of life.
He that sinneth before his Maker, let him fall into the hands of the
physician.
* * * * *
My son, let thy tears fall over the dead, and as one that suffereth
grievously begin lamentation; and wind up his body according to his
due, and neglect not his burial.
Make bitter weeping, and make passionate wailing, and let thy mourning
be according to his desert, for one day or two, lest thou be evil
spoken of; and so be comforted for thy sorrow.
For of sorrow cometh death, and sorrow of heart will bow down the
strength.
In calamity sorrow also remaineth; and the poor man’s life is grievous
to the heart.
Give not thy heart unto sorrow: put it away, remembering the last end:
Forget it not, for there is no returning again: him thou shalt not
profit, and thou wilt hurt thyself.
Remember the sentence upon him; for so also shall thine be; yesterday
for me, and to-day for thee.
When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted
for him, when his spirit departeth from him.
* * * * *
The wisdom of the scribe cometh by opportunity of leisure; and he that
hath little business shall become wise.
How shall he become wise that holdeth the plough, that glorieth in the
shaft of the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours,
and whose discourse is of the stock of bulls?
He will set his heart upon turning his furrows; and his wakefulness is
to give his heifers their fodder.
So is every artificer and workmaster, that passeth his time by night
as by day; they that cut gravings of signets, and his diligence is to
make great variety; he will set his heart to preserve likeness in his
portraiture, and will be wakeful to finish his work.
So is the smith sitting by the anvil, and considering the unwrought
iron: the vapour of the fire will waste his flesh; and in the heat of
the furnace will he wrestle with his work: the noise of the hammer will
be ever in his ear, and his eyes are upon the pattern of the vessel; he
will set his heart upon perfecting his works, and he will be wakeful
to adorn them perfectly.
So is the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about
with his feet, who is always anxiously set at his work, and all his
handywork is by number;
He will fashion the clay with his arm, and will bend his strength in
front of his feet; he will apply his heart to finish the glazing; and
he will be wakeful to make clean the furnace.
* * * * *
All these put their trust in their hands; and each becometh wise in his
own work.
Without these shall not a city be inhabited, and men shall not sojourn
nor walk up and down therein.
They shall not be sought for in the council of the people, and in the
assembly they shall not mount on high; they shall not sit on the seat
of the judge, and they shall not understand the covenant of judgement:
neither shall they declare instruction and judgement; and where
parables are they shall not be found.
But they will maintain the fabric of the world; and in the handywork of
their craft is their prayer.
* * * * *
=39= Not so he that hath applied his soul, and meditateth in the law
of the Most High; he will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and
will be occupied in prophecies.
He will keep the discourse of the men of renown, and will enter in
amidst the subtilties of parables.
He will seek out the hidden meaning of proverbs, and be conversant in
the dark sayings of parables.
He will serve among great men, and appear before him that ruleth; he
will travel through the land of strange nations; for he hath tried good
things and evil among men.
He will apply his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and
will make supplication before the Most High, and will open his mouth in
prayer, and will make supplication for his sins.
* * * * *
If the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of
understanding: he shall pour forth the words of his wisdom, and in
prayer give thanks unto the Lord.
He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he
meditate.
He shall shew forth the instruction which he hath been taught, and
shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world
endureth, it shall not be blotted out: his memorial shall not depart,
and his name shall live from generation to generation.
Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the congregation shall tell out
his praise.
If he continue, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if
he die, he addeth thereto.
* * * * *
Yet more will I utter, which I have thought upon; and I am filled as
the moon at the full.
Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by a
brook of water:
And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and put forth flowers as a
lily, spread abroad a sweet smell, and sing a song of praise; bless ye
the Lord for all his works.
Magnify his name, and give utterance to his praise with the songs of
your lips, and with harps; and thus shall ye say when ye utter his
praise:
* * * * *
All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and every command shall
be accomplished in his season.
None can say, What is this? wherefore is that? for in his season they
shall all be sought out. At his word the waters stood as a heap, and
the receptacles of waters at the word of his mouth.
At his command is all his good pleasure done; and there is none that
shall hinder his salvation.
The works of all flesh are before him; and it is not possible to be hid
from his eyes.
He beholdeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing
wonderful before him.
None can say, What is this? wherefore is that? For all things are
created for their uses.
* * * * *
His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and saturated it as a
flood.
As he hath turned the waters into saltness; so shall the heathen
inherit his wrath.
His ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the
wicked.
Good things are created from the beginning for the good; so are evil
things for sinners.
The chief of all things necessary for the life of man are water, and
fire, and iron, and salt, and flour of wheat, and honey, and milk, the
blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing.
All these things are for good to the godly; so to the sinners they
shall be turned into evil.
There be winds that are created for vengeance, and in their fury lay on
their scourges heavily; in the time of consummation they pour out their
strength, and shall appease the wrath of him that made them.
Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these are created for
vengeance;
Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions and adders, and a sword punishing
the ungodly unto destruction.
They shall rejoice in his commandment, and shall be made ready upon
earth, when need is; and in their seasons they shall not transgress his
word.
* * * * *
Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and I thought this, and
left it in writing;
All the works of the Lord are good: and he will supply every need in
its season.
And none can say, This is worse than that; for they shall all be well
approved in their season.
And now with all your heart and mouth sing ye praises, and bless the
name of the Lord.
* * * * *
=40= Great travail is created for every man, and a heavy yoke is
upon the sons of Adam, from the day of their coming forth from their
mother’s womb, until the day for their burial in the mother of all
things.
The expectation of things to come, and the day of death, trouble their
thoughts, and cause fear of heart;
From him that sitteth on a throne of glory, even unto him that is
humbled in earth and ashes;
From him that weareth purple and a crown, even unto him that is clothed
with a hempen frock.
There is wrath, and jealousy, and trouble, and disquiet, and fear of
death, and anger, and strife; and in the time of rest upon his bed his
night sleep doth change his knowledge.
A little or nothing is his resting, and afterward in his sleep, as in a
day of keeping watch, he is troubled in the vision of his heart, as one
that hath escaped from the front of battle.
In the very time of his deliverance he awaketh, and marvelleth that the
fear is nought.
* * * * *
It is thus with all flesh, from man to beast, and upon sinners
sevenfold more.
Death, and bloodshed, and strife, and sword, calamities, famine,
tribulation, and the scourge;
All these things were created for the wicked, and because of them came
the flood.
All things that are of the earth turn to the earth again: and all
things that are of the waters return into the sea.
* * * * *
All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out; and good faith shall
stand for ever.
The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and like a
great thunder in rain shall go off in noise.
In opening his hands a man shall be made glad: so shall transgressors
utterly fail.
The children of the ungodly shall not put forth many branches; and are
as unclean roots upon a sheer rock.
The sedge that groweth upon every water and bank of a river shall be
plucked up before all grass.
Bounty is as a garden of blessings, and almsgiving endureth for ever.
The life of one that laboureth, and is contented, shall be made sweet;
and he that findeth a treasure is above both.
Children and the building of a city establish a man’s name; and a
blameless wife is counted above both.
Wine and music rejoice the heart; and the love of wisdom is above both.
The pipe and the psaltery make pleasant melody; and a pleasant tongue
is above both.
Thine eye shall desire grace and beauty; and above both the green blade
of corn.
A friend and a companion never meet amiss; and a wife with her husband
is above both.
Brethren and succour are for a time of affliction; and almsgiving is a
deliverer above both.
Gold and silver will make the foot stand sure; and counsel is esteemed
above them both.
Riches and strength will lift up the heart; and the fear of the Lord is
above both; there is nothing wanting in the fear of the Lord, and there
is no need to seek help therein.
The fear of the Lord is as a garden of blessing, and covereth a man
above all glory.
* * * * *
My son, lead not a beggar’s life; better it is to die than to beg.
A man that looketh unto the table of another, his life is not to be
counted for a life; he will pollute his soul with another man’s meats:
but a man wise and well-instructed will beware thereof.
In the mouth of the shameless begging will be sweet; and in his belly a
fire shall be kindled.
=41= O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that is at
peace in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to distract
him, and hath prosperity in all things, and that still hath strength to
receive meat!
O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto a man that is needy, and that
faileth in strength, that is in extreme old age, and is distracted
about all things, and is perverse, and hath lost patience!
Fear not the sentence of death; remember them that have been before
thee, and that come after: this is the sentence from the Lord over all
flesh.
And why dost thou refuse, when it is the good pleasure of the Most
High? Whether it be ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years, there is no
inquisition of life in the grave.
* * * * *
The children of sinners are abominable children, and they frequent the
dwellings of the ungodly.
The inheritance of sinners’ children shall perish, and with their
posterity shall be a perpetual reproach.
Children will complain of an ungodly father, because they shall be
reproached for his sake.
Woe unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the Most High
God!
If ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse; if ye die, a curse shall be
your portion.
All things that are of the earth shall go back to the earth: so the
ungodly shall go from a curse unto perdition.
The mourning of men is about their bodies: but the name of sinners
being evil shall be blotted out.
Have regard to thy name; for it continueth with thee longer than a
thousand great treasures of gold.
A good life hath its number of days; and a good name continueth for
ever.
* * * * *
=42= Of these things be not ashamed, and accept no man’s person to sin
thereby:
Of the law of the Most High, and his covenant; and of judgement to do
justice to the ungodly;
Of reckoning with a partner and with travellers; and of a gift from the
heritage of friends;
Of exactness of balance and weights; and of getting much or little;
Of indifferent selling of merchants; and of much correction of
children; and of making the side of an evil servant to bleed.
Sure keeping is good, where an evil wife is; and where many hands are,
shut thou close.