1 He, that being
often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed,
and that without remedy.
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but
when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth
company with harlots spendeth his substance.
4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth
gifts overthroweth it.
5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his
feet.
6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but
the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked
regardeth not to know it.
8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn
away wrath.
9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage
or laugh, there is no rest.
10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his
soul.
11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in
till afterwards.
12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth
both their eyes.
14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall
be established for ever.
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself
bringeth his mother to shame.
16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth:
but the righteous shall see their fall.
17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall
give delight unto thy soul.
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that
keepeth the law, happy is he.
19 A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand
he will not answer.
20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more
hope of a fool than of him.
21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall
have him become his son at the length.
22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth
in transgression.
23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold
the humble in spirit.
24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth
cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust
in the LORD shall be safe.
26 Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh
from the LORD.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that
is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
Chapter 30
1 The words of
Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto
Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding
of a man.
3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered
the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment?
who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his
name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put
their trust in him.
6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou
be found a liar.
7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before
I die:
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty
nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or
lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee,
and thou be found guilty.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth
not bless their mother.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and
yet is not washed from their filthiness.
13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their
eyelids are lifted up.
14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their
jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth,
and the needy from among men.
15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There
are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things
say not, It is enough:
16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled
with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey
his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and
the young eagles shall eat it.
18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea,
four which I know not:
19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon
a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way
of a man with a maid.
20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth
her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which
it cannot bear:
22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled
with meat;
23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid
that is heir to her mistress.
24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but
they are exceeding wise:
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their
meat in the summer;
26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses
in the rocks;
27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by
bands;
28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely
in going:
30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away
for any;
31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there
is no rising up.
32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if
thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the
wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of
wrath bringeth forth strife.
Chapter 31
1 The words of
king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the
son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which
destroyeth kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink
wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment
of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine
unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery
no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are
appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of
the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above
rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that
he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her
hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from
afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to
her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of
her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her
arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth
not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the
distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth
forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all
her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is
silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among
the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles
unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice
in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the
law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth
not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband
also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them
all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that
feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works
praise her in the gates. |