This page needs to be proofread.

his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? [1]
7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Differing weights, and differing measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. [2] [3]
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thy eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 It is nothing, it is nothing, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for an adulteress.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. [4]
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. [5]
20 Whoever curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. [6]
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end of it shall not be blessed.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23 Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good. [7]
24 Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. [8]
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy.
29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly. [9]

CHAP. 21.


The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it wherever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD weigheth the hearts.
3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. [10] [11]
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro by them that seek death.
7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. [12]
8 The way of man is perverse and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. [13] [14]
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. [15]
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
13 Whoever stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. [16]
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. [17]
20 There is a treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of its confidence.
23 Whoever keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. [18]

  1. goodness: or, bounty
  2. Divers weights: Heb. A stone and a stone
  3. divers measures: Heb. an ephah and an ephah
  4. deceit: Heb. lying, or, falsehood
  5. flattereth: or, enticeth
  6. lamp: or, candle
  7. a false...: Heb. balance of deceit
  8. candle: or, lamp
  9. cleanseth...: Heb. is a purging medicine against
  10. An...: Heb. Haughtiness of eyes
  11. the plowing: or, the light
  12. destroy...: Heb. saw them, or, dwell with them
  13. a brawling...: Heb. a woman of contentions
  14. a wide...: Heb. an house of society
  15. findeth...: Heb. is not favoured
  16. pleasure: or, sport
  17. in...: Heb. in the land of the desert
  18. in proud...: Heb. in the wrath of pride