intimating the dreadful agonies of their consciences; because they refuse to do judgment, will go on in a wicked course, and not make 8 restitution. The way of man [is] froward and strange; that is, the way of freward, perverse men is strange, hateful to God and good men but [as for] the pure, his work [is] right; he ap proves himself to God, and acts worthily in his station; you know where to find him and may safely trust him. [It is] better to dwell in a corner of the house top, in a poor, silent manner,exposed to all the injuries of the weather, than with a brawling woman in a wide house, a house of society. A perverse wife spoils all the pleasure that a man would find in his friends and relations, for she generally sets herself against them; and there can be no more evident proof of 10 folly and perverseness than this. The soul of the wicked desireth evil his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes; he is of such a malignant temper that he seems to have outgrown all sense of humanity, and spares neither friends nor foes if they stand in A the way of his evil designs. When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise and when the wise is instructed, he 12 receiveth knowledge, without any such methods of severity. The righteous [man] wisely considereth the house of the wicked: [but God] overthroweth the wicked for [their] wickedness; wise and good men consider the designs of Providence in the prosperity of the wicked and the destruction that often comes upon 13 them. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard; an awful passage that 14 should never be forgotten. A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and : a reward in the bosom strong wrath, and it is prudent where it 15 can be honestly bestowed. [It is] joy to the just to do judgment, to do it themselves and see it done by others: but destruction 16 [shall be] to the workers of iniquity. The man, that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congrega tion of the dead; there his wanderings end, there he shall take up his lodging, and be punished in hell with the sinners of the old world. 17 He that loveth pleasure, that is, sports and diversions, [shall be] a poor man he that loveth wine and oil, the luxuries and 18 delicacies of life, shall not be rich. The wicked [shall be] a ransom for the rightecus, and the transgressor for the upright; they shall suffer that punishment which was intended for the righteous; and are sometimes instruments of delivering good men 19 contrary to their desire. [It is] better to dwell in the wilderness quietly, though removed from human converse, than with a con20 tentious and an angry woman. [There is] treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; a person in the lower circumstances of life may with prudent forecast have something decent and handsome to entertain his friends with; but a foolish man spendeth 21 it up, wastes it upon himself, or in extravagance with others. He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness and honour; a comfortable and happy life, and honour among good men and from God; the true and most satisfactory way to en22 joy life is to be really religious. A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof; wisdom and conduct are often better than strength. 23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, is weary and cautious 24 in talking, keepeth his soul from troubles. Proud [and] haugh ty scorner [is] his name, who dealeth in proud wrath, that is his 25 proper name, and there cannot be a more odious one. The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour an admirable observation; while men have not the resolution to apply to business, they are tormented with their own wants, with reflections on the necessity of diligence, and their own guilt in neglecting 26 it. He coveteth greedily all the day long: this is an exceeding beautiful repetition; he desires a desire all the day long; he desires and desires, and there it rests; he will do nothing to secure the thing he desires; and therefore he often wants necessaries: but the righteous giveth and spareth not; an honest diligent man not only supports himself, but has wherewith to supply and relieve 27 others. The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination: how much more, [when] he bringeth it with a wicked mind? This is not designed to discourage prayer in the wicked; the meaning is, that a man who goes on in a course of wickedness, and yet keeps up the external forms of religion, is offensive to God, especially when he makes use of religion as a mask to deceive others, or thinks to 28 compensate with the Almighty for his sins by his sacrifices. A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly; the man that heareth and considereth, speaks with judg29 ment and success, as he is always believed. A wicked man hardeneth his face, endeavours to conquer the shame of having done amiss : but [as for] the upright, he directeth his way; examines his actions, and endeavours to live so that he may not blame himself. 30 [There is] no wisdom, no natural sagacity, nor understanding, no improvement of parts, or human policies, nor counsel, that is, confederacies and combinations, against the LORD, that shall take 31 place to overturn the counsels and designs of God. The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD; no military preparations will do, unless he gives success. This is a powerful motive to prayer, especially in time of war, to commit all our national interests and concerns to him, and to go forth in his strength. CHAP. XXII. A (GOOD) name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favour rather than silver and gold; without the respect and kindness of a man's neighbours and friends his riches will not make him comfortable; let us be thankful if we 2 have a good reputation and do nothing to forfeit it. The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all; with regard to happiness they are much upon the same footing; God hath fixed their respective circumstances, and at death they shall all certainly meet together and be upon a level; let the rich there3 fore be humble, and the poor contented. A prudent [man] fore seeth the evil and hideth himself; he makes provision against it but the simple pass on and are punished; they never think of it till they fall into it; this is applicable both to worldly and re4 ligious concerns. By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] 5 riches, honour, and life. Thorns [and] snares, continual perplexity and vexation, [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep hisul, that watches over his actions and words, and is of a friendly obliging disposition, shall be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it; this is generally though not universally true, and a great motive it is to a prudent and pious educa7 tion of children. The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender : this should be a motive to diligence 8 and frugality that we may not be dependent upon others. He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity, that is, mortífication und disappointment and the rod of his anger, the power with which 9 he injures others, shall fail. He that hath a bountiful eye, who sees and compassionates the misery of others, shall be blessed; for 10 he giveth of his bread to the poor. Cast out the scorner, him who disdains advice and counsel, and is obstinately bent on his own way, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall 11 cease. He that loveth pureness of heart, an upright man, who delivers his mind in acceptable language, [for] the grace of his 12 lips, the king [shall be] his friend. The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, God graciously watches over those who make his law their rule and religion their care; and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor; he cuts short the power of the 13 wicked, so that they do not what they intend. The slothful [man] saith, [There] is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets; a very unlikely thing to meet a lion in the streets; it shews the 14 folly of slothful people's excuses. The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit; their society is a gulf of destruction: he that is abhorred of the LORD, who is given up to his wicked lusts, shall 15 fall therein. Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him; in many 16 cases this is the only method. He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches, and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want; Providence often delivers unjust men into 17 the hands of oppressors, who serve them as they served others. Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge, the wise lessons which I teach thee. 18 For [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips; they will be thy delight and 19 ornament; and enable thee to speak properly and usefully. That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee; I have acquainted thee with these things, 20 that thou mayest therefore be encouraged to trust only in God. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge; 21 I refer to thy own judgment and discretion; That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? be useful to those that consult thee or employ thee in any business; this is one great advantage of wisdom, that it fits men for useful 22 services in life. Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor neither oppress the afflicted in the gate, that is, in the court of justice; let him not be overthrown or injured because he wants money to 23 defend his cause: For the LORD, the supreme judge, will plead 24 their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man 25 thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul; lest his passions provoke thine; or lest his exam26 ple corrupt thee, and lead thee into sin. Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? It is prudent to avoid being bound for others, lest the creditor in the rage of his disappointment go beyond what the law allows, and reduce thee to great extremity through thy own 28 folly. Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers 29 have set, for the distinction of one inheritance from another. Seest thou a man diligent in his business, a man that looks about him, is active and diligent in his own proper work, he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men ;] he is likely to rise and be advanced in life. If we desire to stand before the King of kings, and to be numbered among his favourites, let us not be slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. 1 CHAP. XXIII. WHEN thou sittest to eat with a ruler, or any person of 3 ance. superior rank or quality, consider diligently what [is] before thee, and how easily thou mayest be drawn into excèss : 2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou [be] a man given to appetite; use any violence with thyself rather than fall into intemperBe not desirous of his dainties: for they [are] deceitful meat; persons by visiting those above their rank get an habit of high living, which often proves a snare to them; plain fare is less expensive, more nourishing, and free from the temptations which 4 attend dainty meats. Labour not to be rich; fatigue not thyself; make not a slavery of business; set bounds to thy contrivances; do not place thy happiness in riches, nor seek them too eagerly : cease from thine own wisdom, which may prompt thee to such a 5 dangerous and destructive conduct. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for [riches] certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Solomon though a rich man, speaks of riches in a very contemptuous manner here, as if they had no real existence. They are often lost through such an excessive desire of more, as sets men upon hazardous enterprises, which, if they do not succeed, lessen their former gain ; while hoarding them up is but letting their wings grow, which makes 6 them more readily fly away. Eat thou not the bread of [him that hath] an evil eye, a man of a covetous temper, who grudgeth thee every thing thou eatest; neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart [is] not with thee; he is to be judged of by his disposition, and not by his compliments; whatever he says, 8 he has no real regard for thee. The morsel [which] thou hast eaten shalt thou wish to vomit up, and lose thy sweet words; 9 repent of all thy compliments and thanks. Speak not in the ears 10 of a fool for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. Re move not the old land mark; and enter not into the fields of the 11 fatherless, who are not able to right themselves. For their Redeemer [is] mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee; if they have no near relation, kinsman, or friend to avenge their wrong, 12 God will do it. Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine 13 ears to the words of knowledge. Withhold not correction from the child out of foolish pity: for [if] thou beatest him with the 14 rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell; save him from those sinful courses 15 that might lead him to destruction. My son, if thine heart be 16 wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things, and nothing that savours 17 of impiety to God or undutifulness to me. Let not thine heart envy sinners but [be thou] in the fear of the LORD all the day long; this will preserve thee from all corrupt affections and irreg18 ular passions. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off; thou wilt not upon the whole lose by thy 19 religion, but have a glorious reward here and hereafter. Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way 20 which I prescribe to thee. Be not among wine bibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh; avoid the society of gluttons and drunk21 ards: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe [a man] with rags; an idle, trifling, sleepy habit, will make men neglect their business, and expose them 22 to want and infamy. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old, for her age is an 23 additional argument for thy dutiful regards to her. Buy the truth at any price, and sell [it] not upon any consideration whatever, for thou wilt surely lose by the bargain; [alsɔ] wisdom, and in24 struction, and understanding. The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise [child] shall have 25 joy of him, in the virtue and regularity of his behaviour. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice; all her pains in thy birth and education shall be abun·lantly 26 repaid. My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe |