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PROVERBS.

whoso putteth his wust in the LORD shall be
safe.

but he that hideth his eyes shall have

a curse.

When the wicked rise, men hide thems: but when they perish, the righteous CHAP. XXIX.

26 Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

ase.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to
the just, and he that is upright in the way is
CHAP. XXX.
abomination to the wicked."

E that, being often reproved, hardeneth
his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed,
that without remedy.

When the righteous are in authority, the ple rejoice: but when the wicked bearrule, the people mourn.

the prophecy the man spake unto THE words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his far: but he that keepeth company with -lots spendeth his substance.

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

The king by judgment establisheth the his fists? who hath bound the waters in a nd: but he that receiveth gifts overthrow-descended? who hath gathered the wind in

it.

of the earth? what is his name, and what is 5 A man that flattereth his neighbour garment? who hath established all the ends readeth a net for his feet. his son's name, if thou canst tell?

In the transgression of an evil man there a snare: but the righteous doth sing and joice.

7 The righteous considereth the cause of the oor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it. 8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: ut wise men turn away wrath.

9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no

rest.

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 Ime them not before I die':

10 The blood-thirsty 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.

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies;
with food convenient for me:
give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me

9 Lest, I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest l'be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, 11 There is a generation that curseth their lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. 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

16 When the wicked are multiplied, trans-devour the poor from off the earth, and the gression increaseth: but the righteous shall needy from among men. see their fall.

15 The horse-leech 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.

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.

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 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.

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 won derful for me, yea, four which I know not:

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 be-
wrayeth it not.

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,

25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but! and for four which it cannot bear:

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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.

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11 The heart of her busband 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.

22 For a servant when he reigneth, and 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;

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31 A grey-hound; an he-goat also; and 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."

CHAP. XXXI.

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 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.

THE

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.

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22 She maketh herself coverings of tapes

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.

30Favour 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.

¶ ECCLESIASTES; or, The PREACHER.

CHAP. I.

about continually; and the wind returneth

HE words of the Preacher, the son of again according to his circuits.
David, king of Jerusalem.

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he

arose.

7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done, is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10 Is there any thing whereof it may be 6 The wind goeth toward the south, and said, See, this is new? it hath been already turneth about unto the north: it whirleth of old time, which was before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was things; neither shall there be any remem- no profit under the sun. brance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

12 ¶ And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? ever. that which hath been already done.

12 ¶ the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem:

13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man, to be exercised therewith.

14 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

15 Then said 1 in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me and why was I then more wise? Then I said

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot in my heart, that this also is vanity. be numbered. 16 For there is no remembrance of the wise

16 I communed with mine own heart, say-more than of the fool for ever; seeing that ing, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have which now is, in the days to come shall all gotten more wisdom than all they that have be forgotten: and how dieth the wise man? been before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart as the fool.. had great experience of wisdom and know- 17 Therefore I hated life; because the ledge. work that is wrought under the sun is griev17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, ous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation and to know madness and folly: I perceived of spirit. that this also is vexation of spirit.

18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth

sorrow.

CHAP. II.

I SAID
prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy
pleasure: and behold, this also is vanity.
2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of
mirth, What doeth it?

3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, (yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom,) and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;

5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits;

6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees;

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7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me;

18¶ Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun; because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule

8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and womensingers, and the delights of the sons of men, es musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

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25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight,wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather, and to heap up, that he may give to him that

9 So I was great, and increased more than

all that were before me in Jerusalem: also is good before God. This also is vanity and my wisdom remained with me. vexation of spirit.

CHAP. III.

10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept | not from them; I withheld heart from any joy: for my heart rejoiced in all

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ny labour; and this was my portion of all my labour.

every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die: a which is planted: time to plant, and a time to pluck up that

11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that Abad laboured to do; and behold, all was to break down, and a time to build up: 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal: a time

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4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance:

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together: a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing:

6 A time to get, and a time to lose: a time to keep, and a time to cast away:

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew: time to keep silence, and a time to speak: 8 A time to love, and a time to hate: a time of war, and a time of peace.

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10 I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart; so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

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41 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

14 I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it; and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

16 ¶ And moreover, I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose, and for every work.

18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

3 Yea, better is he than both they which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

CHAP. IV.

1

I all the pressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

Wherefore I praised the dead which are

6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

71 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

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19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath: so that a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

CHAP. V.
EEP thy foot when thou

Auto one place; all are of the Khouse of God, and be un goes to the

dust, and all turn to dust again.

14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

hear than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

3 For a dream cometh through the multi tude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, de

not to he in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel that it was an error: wherefore should

ECCLESIASTES.

ngry at thy voice, and destroy the work ine hands?

5 Moreover, he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.

For in the multitude of dreams and mawords there are also divers vanities: but thou God.

6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good : do not all go to one place?

71 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, violent perverting of judgment and juse in a province, marvel not at the matter: he that is higher than the highest regardn; and there be higher than they. 91 Moreover, the profit of the earth is for : the king himself is served by the field.

8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

91 Better is the sight of the eyes than the 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satis-wandering of the desire: this is also vanity ed with silver; nor he that loveth abun- and vexation of spirit.

10 That which hath been is named alrea dy, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

11 ¶ Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a CHAP. VII. man what shall be after him under the sun?

ance with increase. This is also vanity.
11 When goods increase, they are increased
at eat them: and what good is there to the
wners thereof, saving the beholding of them
ith their eyes?

12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abunance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the Owners thereof to their hurt.

GOOD name is better than precious

14 But those riches perish by evil travail; Antment; and the day of death than the and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go and what profit hath be that hath laboured for the wind? 17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

day of one's birth.

2¶ It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of house of mirth. mourning but the heart of fools is in the

18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him; for it is his portion.

19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour: this is the gift of God.

5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

71 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the beart.

8 Better is the end of a thing than the be ginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

111 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and by it there is profit to them that see the

20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart. CHAP. VI.

HERE is an evil which I have seen under
The sun, and it is common among men.

2 A man to whom God hath given riches,
wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth no-sun.
thing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet
God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a

12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is
defence: but the excellency of knowledge

13 Consider the work of God; for who a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. an evil disease. can make that straight which he hath made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but

3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the that an untimely birth is better than he : end that man should find nothing after him.

4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

15 All things have I seen in the days of my Ivanity; there is a just man that perisheth is

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