Bible in 90 Days
22 Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.
24 The steps of a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 Man's spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.
29 The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
30 Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes [purge] the inner parts of the belly.
21 The king's heart in the hand of Jehovah is [as] brooks of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
3 To exercise justice and judgment is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.
4 Lofty eyes, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
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 fleeting breath of them that seek death.
7 The devastation of the wicked sweepeth them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
8 Very crooked is the way of a guilty man; but as for the pure, his work is upright.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 One that is righteous wisely considereth the house of the wicked: he overthroweth the wicked to [their] ruin.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also himself shall cry, and shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger; and a present in the bosom, vehement fury.
15 It is joy to a righteous [man] to do what is right; but it is ruin for the workers of iniquity.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of wisdom shall abide in the congregation of the dead.
17 He that loveth mirth shall be a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and a treacherous [man] in the stead of the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land. than with a contentious and irritable woman.
20 There is costly store and oil in the dwelling of a wise [man]; but a foolish man swalloweth 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 the confidence thereof.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 Proud, arrogant, scorner is his name who dealeth in proud wrath.
25 The desire of the sluggard killeth him; for his hands refuse to work:
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more when they bring it with a wicked purpose!
28 A lying witness shall perish; and a man that heareth shall speak constantly.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he establisheth his way.
30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against Jehovah.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but safety is of Jehovah.
22 A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches; loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor meet together; Jehovah is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent [man] seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 The reward of humility [and] the fear of Jehovah is riches, and honour, and life.
5 Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the perverse: he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.
6 Train up the child according to the tenor of his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor; and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that soweth unrighteousness shall reap iniquity, and the rod of his wrath shall have an end.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention will depart, and strife and ignominy shall cease.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, upon whose lips is grace, the king is his friend.
12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge; but he overthroweth the words of the unfaithful.
13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without, I shall be killed in the streets!
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep ditch: he with whom Jehovah is displeased shall fall therein.
15 Folly is bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 He that oppresseth the poor, it is to enrich him; he that giveth to the rich, [bringeth] only to want.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee: they shall be together fitted on thy lips.
19 That thy confidence may be in Jehovah, I have made [them] known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things, in counsels and knowledge,
21 that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate;
23 for Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoil them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man, and go not with a furious man;
25 lest thou learn his paths, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Be not of them that strike hands, of them that are sureties for debts:
27 if thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set.
29 Hast thou seen a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before the mean.
23 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider well who is before thee;
2 and put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
3 Be not desirous of his dainties; for they are deceitful food.
4 Weary not thyself to become rich; cease from thine own intelligence:
5 wilt thou set thine eyes upon it, it is gone; for indeed it maketh itself wings and it flieth away as an eagle towards the heavens.
6 Eat thou not the food of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainties.
7 For as he thinketh in his soul, so is he. Eat and drink! will he say unto thee; but his heart is not with thee.
8 Thy morsel which thou hast eaten must thou vomit up, and thou wilt have wasted thy sweet words.
9 Speak not in the ears of a foolish [man], for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
10 Remove not the ancient landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
11 for their redeemer is mighty; he will plead their cause against thee.
12 Apply thy heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Withhold not correction from the child; for [if] thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die:
14 thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from Sheol.
15 My son, if thy heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine;
16 and my reins shall exult, when thy lips speak right things.
17 Let not thy heart envy sinners, but [be thou] in the fear of Jehovah all the day;
18 for surely there is a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
19 Thou, my son, hear and be wise, and direct thy heart in the way.
20 Be not among winebibbers, among riotous eaters of flesh.
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; and drowsiness clotheth with rags.
22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; wisdom, and instruction, and intelligence.
24 The father of a righteous [man] shall greatly rejoice, and he that begetteth a wise [son] shall have joy of him:
25 let thy father and thy mother have joy, and let her that bore thee rejoice.
26 My son, give me thy heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
28 She also lieth in wait as a robber, and increaseth the treacherous among men.
29 Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who contentions? Who complaining? Who wounds without cause? Who redness of eyes?
30 —They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to try mixed wine.
31 Look not upon the wine when it is red, when it sparkleth in the cup, and goeth down smoothly:
32 at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thy heart shall speak froward things;
34 and thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, and as he that lieth down upon the top of a mast:
35 —''They have smitten me, [and] I am not sore; they have beaten me, [and] I knew it not. When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.''
24 Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2 for their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Through wisdom is a house built, and by understanding it is established;
4 and by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant substance.
5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 For with good advice shalt thou make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he will not open his mouth in the gate.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a master of intrigues.
9 The purpose of folly is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 [If] thou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.
11 Deliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to slaughter.
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.
13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb is sweet to thy taste:
14 so consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; lay not waste his resting-place.
16 For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;
18 lest Jehovah see it, and it be evil in his sight, and he turn away his anger from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, [and] be not envious of the wicked:
20 for there shall be no future to the evil [man]; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear Jehovah and the king: meddle not with them that are given to change.
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 These things also come from the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him;
25 but to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing cometh upon them.
26 He kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.
27 Prepare thy work without, and put thy field in order, and afterwards build thy house.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me, I will render to the man according to his work.
30 I went by the field of a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding;
31 and lo, it was all grown over with thistles, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I looked, I took it to heart; I saw, I received instruction:
33 —A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest!
34 So shall thy poverty come [as] a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.
25 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a thing.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
5 take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of the great;
7 for better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes see.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another;
10 lest he that heareth [it] disgrace thee, and thine evil report turn not away.
11 [As] apples of gold in pictures of silver, is a word spoken in season.
12 An ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an attentive ear.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so] is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
14 Clouds and wind without rain, [so] is a man that boasteth himself of a false gift.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be surfeited therewith, and vomit it.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee and hate thee.
18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.
19 A broken tooth, and a tottering foot, is confidence in an unfaithful [man] in the day of trouble.
20 [As] he that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a sad heart.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah shall reward thee.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain, and the angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.
25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 A troubled fountain, and a defiled well, is a righteous [man] that giveth way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey; and to search into weighty matters is [itself] a weight.
28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is [as] a city broken down, without walls.
26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
2 As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
11 As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
14 [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
17 He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
21 [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
25 when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
27 Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day will bring forth.
2 Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's vexation is heavier than them both.
4 Fury is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Open rebuke is better than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 The full soul trampleth on a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; and the sweetness of one's friend is [the fruit] of hearty counsel.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; and go not into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me.
12 A prudent [man] seeth the evil, [and] hideth himself; the simple pass on, [and] are punished.
13 Take his garment that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for a strange woman.
14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be reckoned a curse to him.
15 A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike:
16 whosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.
17 Iron is sharpened by iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that guardeth his master shall be honoured.
19 As [in] water face [answereth] to face, so the heart of man to man.
20 Sheol and destruction are insatiable; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; so let a man be to the mouth that praiseth him.
22 If thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his folly depart from him.
23 Be well acquainted with the appearance of thy flocks; look well to thy herds:
24 for wealth is not for ever; and doth the crown [endure] from generation to generation?
25 The hay is removed, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered in.
26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of a field;
27 and there is goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and sustenance for thy maidens.
28 The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 By the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; but by a man of understanding [and] of knowledge, [its] stability is prolonged.
3 A poor man who oppresseth the helpless is a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men understand not judgment; but they that seek Jehovah understand everything.
6 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse, double in ways, though he be rich.
7 Whoso observeth the law is a son that hath understanding; but he that is a companion of profligates bringeth shame to his father.
8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance gathereth it for him that is gracious to the poor.
9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way, shall himself fall into his own pit; but the perfect shall inherit good.
11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men conceal themselves.
13 He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall obtain mercy.
14 Happy is the man that feareth always; but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil.
15 A roaring lion, and a ranging bear, is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 The prince void of intelligence is also a great oppressor: he that hateth covetousness shall prolong [his] days.
17 A man laden with the blood of [any] person, fleeth to the pit: let no man stay him.
18 Whoso walketh in integrity shall be saved; but he that is perverted in [his] double ways, shall fall in one [of them].
19 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth the worthless shall have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man aboundeth with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
21 To have respect of persons is not good; but for a piece of bread will a man transgress.
22 He that hath an evil eye hasteth after wealth, and knoweth not that poverty shall come upon him.
23 He that rebuketh a man shall afterwards find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.
24 Whoso robbeth his father and his mother, and saith, It is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer.
25 He that is puffed up in soul exciteth contention; but he that relieth upon Jehovah shall be made fat.
26 He that confideth in his own heart is a fool; but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; but he that withdraweth his eyes shall have many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase.
29 He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and without remedy.
2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; but he that is a companion of harlots destroyeth [his] substance.
4 A king by just judgment establisheth the land; but he that taketh gifts overthroweth it.
5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his steps.
6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; but the righteous shall sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor; the wicked understandeth not knowledge.
8 Scornful men set the city in a flame; but the wise turn away anger.
9 If a wise man contendeth with a fool, whether he rage or laugh, [he] hath no rest.
10 The bloodthirsty hate the perfect, but the upright care for his soul.
11 A fool uttereth all his mind; but a wise [man] keepeth it back.
12 If a ruler hearken to lying words, all his servants are wicked.
13 The indigent and the oppressor meet together; Jehovah lighteneth the eyes of them both.
14 A 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 increase, transgression increaseth; but the righteous shall see their fall.
17 Chasten thy son, and he shall give thee rest, and shall give delight unto thy soul.
18 Where there is no vision the people cast off restraint; but happy is he that keepeth the law.
19 A servant is not corrected by words: he understandeth indeed, but he will not answer.
20 Hast thou seen a man 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 in the end have him as a son.
22 An angry man exciteth contention; and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
23 A man's pride bringeth him low; but the humble in spirit shall obtain honour.
24 Whoso shareth with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth the adjuration, and declareth not.
25 The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his confidence in Jehovah is protected.
26 Many seek the ruler's face; but a man's right judgment is from Jehovah.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous; and he that is of upright way is an abomination to the wicked [man].
30 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the prophecy uttered by the man unto Ithiel, [even] unto Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Truly *I* am more stupid than any one; and I have not a man's intelligence.
3 I have neither learned wisdom, nor have I the knowledge of the Holy.
4 Who hath ascended up into the heavens, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a mantle? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou knowest?
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 do I ask 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 the bread of my daily need:
9 lest I be full and deny [thee], and say, Who is Jehovah? or lest I be poor and steal, and outrage the name of my God.
10 Speak not too much about a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be held 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, yet are not washed from their filthiness;
13 there is a generation,—how lofty are their eyes, how their eyelids are lifted up!
14 —a generation whose teeth are swords, and their jaw-teeth knives, to devour the afflicted from off the earth, and the needy from [among] men.
15 The leech hath two daughters: Give, give. There are three [things] never satisfied; four which say not, It is enough:
16 —Sheol, and the barren womb; the earth which is not filled with water, and the fire which saith not, It is enough.
17 The eye that mocketh at a father, and despiseth to obey a mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
18 There are three [things] too wonderful for me, and four that I know not:
19 The way of an eagle in the heavens, 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 Under three [things] the earth is disquieted, and under four it cannot bear up:
22 Under a servant when he reigneth, and a churl when he is filled with meat;
23 under an odious [woman] when she is married, and a handmaid when she is heir to her mistress.
24 There are four [things] little upon the earth, and they are exceeding wise:
25 The ants, a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;
26 the rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, yet they make their house in the cliff;
27 the locusts have no king, yet they go forth all of them by bands;
28 thou takest hold of the lizard with the hands, yet is she in kings' palaces.
29 There are three [things] which have a stately step, and four are comely in going:
30 The lion, mighty among beasts, which turneth not away for any;
31 a [horse] girt in the loins; or the he-goat; and a king, against whom none can rise up.
32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, [lay] the hand upon thy mouth.
33 For the pressing of milk bringeth forth butter, and the pressing of the nose bringeth forth blood; and the pressing of anger bringeth forth strife.
31 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
5 —lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7 let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
10 Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
12 She doeth 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 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and 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 coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
29 Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
30 Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities! all is vanity.
3 What profit hath man of all his labour wherewith he laboureth under the sun?
4 [One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh, but the earth standeth for ever.
5 The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.
6 The wind goeth towards the south, and turneth about towards the north: it turneth about continually, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.
7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full: unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.
8 All things are full of toil; none can express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which will be done: and there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already in the ages which were before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be remembrance of things that are to come with those who shall live afterwards.
12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I applied my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: this grievous occupation hath God given to the children of men to weary themselves therewith.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have become great and have acquired wisdom more than all they that have been before me over Jerusalem; and my heart hath seen much of wisdom and knowledge.
17 And I applied my heart to the knowledge of wisdom, and to the knowledge of madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after the wind.
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
2 I said in my heart, Come now, I will try thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure. But behold, this also is vanity.
2 I said of laughter, Madness! and of mirth, What availeth it?
3 I searched in my heart how to cherish my flesh with wine, while practising my heart with wisdom; and how to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was that good for the children of men which they should do under the heavens 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 parks, and I planted trees in them of every kind of fruit;
6 I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood, where the trees are reared.
7 I acquired servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that had been in Jerusalem before me.
8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the children of men, a wife and concubines.
9 And I became great, and increased more than all that had been before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them: I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour, and this was my portion from all my labour.
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that it had cost me to do [them]; and behold, all was vanity and pursuit of the wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly; for what shall the man [do] that cometh after the king?—that which hath already been done.
13 And I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as light excelleth darkness.
14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness; but I myself also perceived that one event happeneth to them all.
15 And I said in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool so will it happen even to me; and why was I then so wise? Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
16 For there shall be no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; because everything is already forgotten in the days which come. And how dieth the wise even as the fool?
17 And I hated life; for the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
18 And I hated all my labour wherewith I had been toiling under the sun, because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
19 And who knoweth whether he will be a wise [man] or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour at which I have laboured, and wherein I have been wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
20 Then I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour wherewith I had laboured under the sun.
21 For there is a man whose labour hath been with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skill, and who leaveth it to a man that hath not laboured therein, to be his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22 For what will man have of all his labour and of the striving of his heart, wherewith he hath wearied himself under the sun?
23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail vexation: even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.
24 There is nothing good for man, but that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
25 For who can eat, or who be eager, more than I?
26 For he 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 is good in God's sight. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
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