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Of public government..

CHAP. XXIX, XXX. Agur's confession and prayer.

24 Whoso robbeth his father or his 19 A servant will not be corrected by mother, and saith, It is no transgression; words: for though he understand he will the same is the companion of a destroyer. not answer.

25 He that is of a proud beart stirreth 20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his up strife: but he that putteth his trust in words? there is more hope of a fool than the LORD shall be made fat.

26 He that trusteth 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 hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

of him.

21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.

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22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and furious man aboundeth in transgression. 23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in

28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the spirit. righteous increase.

CHAP. XXIX.

24 Whoso is partner with a thief,hateth his own soul: he, heareth cursing, and be

HE neck, shall suddenly be de-
E that, being often reproved, harden-wrayeth it not.

stroyed, and that without remedy.

2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.

25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

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

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just; and he that is upright in the 4 The king by judgment establisheth way is abomination to the wicked. the land: but he that receiveth gifts overCHAP. XXX. throweth it.

5 A man that flattereth his neighbour THE words of Agur the son of Jakeh,

spreadeth a net for his feet.

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

The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is

no rest.

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.

12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are w cked.

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.

16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.

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.

even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, 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 descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? 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 me them not before I'die:

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

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

10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found 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, 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

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Parents to be respected.

PROVERBS. Properties of a virtuous woman.

are as swords, and their jaw-teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that be

15 The horse-leech hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three of heavy hearts. 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.

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 wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

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 inan 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 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: 22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

23 For an odious woman when she is married; and a 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;

31 A greyhound; a he-goat also; and a 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 thy hand upon thy mouth.

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.

11 The heart of her husband 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.

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.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; 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; 33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth and in her tongue is the law of kindness. forth butter, and the wringing of the nose 27 She looketh well to the ways of her bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of household, and eateth not the bread of wrath bringeth forth strife.

CHAP. XXXI. '

THE
HE words of king Lemuel, the pro-
phecy 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:

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.

30 Favour 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.

HE words of the Preacher, the son of
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?

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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 my heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting my heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons 4 One generation passeth away, and of men, which they should do under the another generation cometh: but the earth heaven all the days of their life. abideth for ever.

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

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

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5 I made me gardens and orchards, and planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6 The wind goeth toward the south, 6 I made me pools of water, to water and turneth about unto the north; it whirl- therewith the wood that bringeth forth eth about continually, and the wind re-trees: turneth again according to his circuits.

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 wi seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

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;

8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings, and of 9 The thing that hath been, it is that the provinces: Igat me men-singers and which shall be; and that which is done is women-singers, and the delights of the that which shall be done: and there is no sons of men, as musical instruments, and new thing under the sun. that of all sorts.

10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

11 There is no remembrance of former 10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired things; neither shall there be any re-I kept not from them, I withheld not my membrance of things that are to come with heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced those that shall come after. in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

12 TI the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

11 Then I looked on all the works that 13 And I gave my heart to seek and my hands had wrought, and on the labour search out by wisdom concerning all things that I had laboured to do: and behold, all that are done under heaven: this sore was vanity and vexation of spirit, and travail hath God given to the sons of man there was no profit under the sun. to be exercised therewith.

12 And I turned myself to behold wis14 I have seen all the works that are dom, and madness, and folly for what done under the sun; and behold, all is can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done. 13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth

vanity and vexation of spirit.

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight and that which is wanting folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. cannot be numbered. 14 The wise man's eyes are in his 16 I communed with mine own heart, head; but the fool walketh in darkness: saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and and I myself perceived also that one event have gotten more wisdom than all they happeneth to them all.

that have been before me in Jerusalem: 15 Then said I in my heart, As it hapyea, my heart had great experience of wis- peneth to the fool, so it happeneth even dom and knowledge. to me; and why was I then more wise?

17 And I gave my heart to know wis-Then I said in my heart, that this also is dom, and to know madness and folly: Ivanity. perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 16 For there is no remembrance of the 18 For in much wisdom is much grief: wise more than of the fool for ever; seeand he that increaseth knowledge in- ing that which now is in the days to come creaseth sorrow. shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

CHAP. II.

SAID in my heart, Go to now, I will

17 Therefore I hated life; because the prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy work that is wrought under the sun is

The vanity of human labour. ECCLESIASTES. Of vanity, oppression, &c. grievous unto me for all is vanity and in his time: also he hath set the world in vexation of spirit. their heart, so that no man can find out the 18 ¶ Yea, I hated all my labour which work that God maketh from the beginning I had taken under the sun because I to the end. 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 over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. 20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which took under the sun.

21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

24¶ There is nothing better for a man than 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 else can hasten hereunto more than I?

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 my heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is time there for every purpose and for every work.

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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 a gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

CHAP. III.

Ta time to every purpose under the

O every thing there is a season, and

heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

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

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 beast: for all is vanity.

20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

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?

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CHAP. IV.

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; O 1 returned, and considered all the 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh ; oppressions that are done under the a time to mourn, and a time to dance; sun: and behold the tears of such as were 5 A time to cast away stones, and a oppressed, and they had no comforter; time to gather stones together; a time and on the side of their oppressors there to embrace, and a time to refrain from was power; but they had no comforter. embracing; 2 Wherefore I praised the dead which

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a are already dead more than the living time to keep, and a time to cast away; which are yet alive.

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a 3 Yea, better is he than both they, which time to keep silence, and a time to speak; hath not yet been, who hath not seen the 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a evil work that is done under the sun. 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

4 T 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.

6 Better is a handful with quietness,

Vanities in divine service.

CHAP. V, VI.

The vanity of riches.

than both the hands full with travail and poor, and violent perverting of judgment vexation of spirit. and justice in a province, marvel not at

7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity the matter: for he that is higher than the under the sun. highest regardeth; and there be higher

8 There is one alone, and there is not a than they. second; yea, he hath neither child nor 9 Moreover, the profit of the earth is brother: yet is there no end of all his la- for all: the king himself is served by the bour; neither is his eye satisfied with field.

riches: neither saith he, For whom do I 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satislabour, and bereave my soul of good?fied with silver; nor he that loveth abunThis is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. dance with increase: this is also vanity. 9 Two are better than one; because 11 When goods increase, they are inthey have a good reward for their labour. creased that eat them: and what good is 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up there to the owners thereof, saving the behis fellow but wo to him that is alone holding of them with their eyes? when he falleth ; for he hath not another to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat but how can one be warm alone?

12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 T Better is a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

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.

KEEP

CHAP. V.

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12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much but the abundance 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.

14 But those riches perish by evil travail: 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 he 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.

18 T Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to EEP thy foot when thou goest to the drink, and to enjoy the good of all his lahouse of God, and be more ready bour that he taketh under the sun all the to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: days of his life, which God giveth him: for they consider not that they do evil. for it is his portion. 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let 19 Every man also to whom God hath not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing given riches and wealth, and hath given before God: for God is in heaven, and him power to eat thereof, and to take his thou upon earth: therefore let thy words portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this be few.

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

is the gift of God.

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

4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure under the sun, and it is common THERE is an evil which I have seen in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, not pay. wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth

among men:

6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, to sin; neither say thou before the angel, yet God giveth him not power to eat therethat it was an error: wherefore should of, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity," God be angry at thy voice, and destroy and it is an evil disease. 3 If a man beget a hundred children,

the work of thy hands?

7 For in the multitude of dreams and and live many years, so that the days of his many words there are also divers vanities: years be many, and his soul be not filled but fear thou God. with good, and also that he have noburial; I

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If thou seest the oppression of the say, that an untimely birth is better than he

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