When the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is no more: As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, So is the sluggard to them that send him. The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: But the years of the wicked shall be shortened. XLIV. WISDOM PROMOTES JUSTICE AND MERCY. PROVERBS 11:1-29. A false balance is an abomination to the Lord: But a just weight is his delight. When pride cometh, then cometh shame: But with the lowly is wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them: But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them. But righteousness delivereth from death. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: But they that deal treacherously shall be taken in their own mischief. When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: And the hope of iniquity perisheth. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked cometh in his stead. With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbour: He that despiseth his neighbour is void of wisdom: Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth: A gracious woman retaineth honour: The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: The wicked earneth deceitful wages: But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward. He that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life: And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death. They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord: But such as are perfect in their way are his delight. Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished: But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, So is a fair woman which is without discretion. But the expectation of the wicked is wrath. There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want. The liberal soul shall be made fat: And he that watereth shall be watered also himself. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favour: But he that searcheth after mischief, it shall come unto him. But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf. He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart. XLV. WISDOM CONTROLS THE TONGUE. PROVERBS 12: 13-28. In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man : But the righteous shall come out of trouble. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: And the doings of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. The way of the foolish is right in his own eyes: But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel. A fool's vexation is presently known: But a prudent man concealeth shame. He that uttereth truth sheweth forth righteousness, But a false witness deceit. There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword: But the tongue of the wise is health. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: But a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil: But to the counsellors of peace is joy. There shall no mischief happen to the righteous: A prudent man concealeth knowledge: The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: But a good word maketh it glad. The righteous is a guide to his neighbour: But the way of the wicked causeth them to err. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: But the precious substance of men is to the diligent. In the way of righteousness is life; And in the pathway thereof there is no death. PROVERBS 15: 1-4. A soft answer turneth away wrath: But a grievous word stirreth up anger. The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright: But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit. XLVI. WISDOM COMMANDS TEMPERANCE. PROVERBS 20:1-13. Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise. The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life. It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: But every fool will be quarrelling. The slothful will not plow by reason of the winter; Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out. Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness: But a faithful man who can find? A just man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him. A king that sitteth on the throne of judgement Scattereth away all evil with his eyes. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, Divers weights, and divers measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. The Lord hath made even both of them. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. PROVERBS 23:29-35. Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? They that go to seek out mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it giveth its colour in the cup, When it goeth down smoothly: At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thine heart shall utter froward things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not hurt; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. XLVII. WORDS OF WISDOM. PROVERBS 22:1-29. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, The Lord is the maker of them all. A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself: The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: And even when he is old he will not depart from it. And the borrower is servant to the lender. |