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of man is not immortal.

then he beginneth; and when 31 What is brighter than he leaveth off, then he shall the fun? yet the light there-be doubtful. of faileth and flesh and blood will imagine evil.

32 He vieweth the power of the height of heaven, and all men are but earth and ashes.

H

CHAP. XVIII.

E that liveth for ever,
created all things in

general.

2 The Lord only is righteous, and there is none other but he;

3 Who governeth the world with the palm of his hand, and all things obey his will: for he is the King of all, by his power dividing holy things among them from profane.

4 To whom hath he given power to declare his works and who fhall find out his noble acts?

5 Who fhall number the ftrength of his majefty? and who fhall also tell out his mercies?

6 As for the wondrous works of the Lord, there may nothing be taken from them, neither may any thing be put unto them, neither can the ground of them be found out:

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8 What is man, and whereto ferveth he? what is his good, and what is his evil?

9¶ The number of a man's days at the most are an hundred years.

10 As a drop of water unto the fea, and a gravelftone in comparison of the fand, fo are a thousand years to the days of eternity.

11 Therefore is God patient with them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them.

12 He faw and perceived their end to be evil; therefore he multiplied his compaffion.

13 The mercy of man is toward his neighbour; but the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh: he reproveth, and nurtureth, and teacheth, and bringeth again, as a fhepherd his flock.

14 He hath mercy on them that receive difcipline, and that diligently feek after his judgments.

15 My fon, blemish not thy good deeds, neither use uncomfortable words when thou givest any thing.

16 Shall not the dew affwage the heat? fo is a word 17 Lo,

a man hath done, better than a gift.
M m 2

17 Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a gracious man.

18 A fool will upbraid churlifhly, and a gift of the envious confumeth the eyes. 19 Learn before thou fpeak, and ufe phyfick or ever thou be fick.

20 Before judgment examine thyfelf; and in the day of vifitation thou fhalt find mercy.

21 Humble thyfelf before thou be fick, and in the time of fins fhew repentance.

22 Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time, and defer not until death to be juftified.

ware of offence: but a feol will not obferve time.

28 Every man of underftanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise unto him that found her.

29 They that were of underftanding in fayings, became alfo wife themselves, and poured forth exquisite parables.

30 Go not after thy lufts, but refrain thyfelf from thine appetites.

31 If thou giveft thy foul the defires that pleafe her, fhe will make thee a laughing-ftock to thine enemies that malign thee.

32 Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the expence thereof.

33 Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrow

23 Before thou prayeft, prepare thyfelf; and be not as one that tempteth the Lord. 24 Think upon the wrathing, when thou haft nothing that shall be at the end, and in thy purfe: for thou shalt the time of vengeance when lie in wait for thine own life, he fhall turn away his face. and be talked on.

25 When thou haft enough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou

CHAP. XIX.

art rich, think upon poverty Labouring man that is

and need.

26 From the morning until the evening the time is changed, and all things are foon done before the Lord.

27 A wife man will fear in every thing, and in the day of finning he will be

given to drunkenness, fhall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things, fhall fall by little and little.

2 ¶ Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaveth to harlots will become impudent.

3 Moths

3 Moths and worms fhall have him to heritage, and a bold man fhall be taken away. 4 He that is hafty to give credit, is light-minded: and he that finneth, fhall offend against his own soul.

he do it no more.

14 Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not faid it: and if he have, that he speak it not again.

15 Admonish a friend: for many times it is a flander, and believe not every tale.

16 There is one that flip

5 Whofo taketh pleasure in wickedness, shall be condemned: but he that refift-peth in his fpeech, but not eth pleasures, crowneth his life.

6 He that can rule his tongue, fhall live without ftrife; and he that hateth babbling, fhall have lefs evil.

7 Rehearfe not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou fhalt fare never the worse.

8 Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men's lives, and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not.

9 For he heard and obferved thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee.

10 If thou haft heard a word, let it die with thee, and be bold, it will not burft thee.

II A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a child.

from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?

17¶ Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him, and not being angry, give place to the law of the moft High.

18 The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted [of him,] and wisdom obtaineth his love.

19 The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord, is the doctrine of life: and they that do things that please him, fhall receive the fruit of the tree of immortality.

20 The fear of the Lord is all wisdom, and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotency.

21 If a fervant fay to his

12 As an arrow that ftick-mafter, I will not do as it eth in a man's thigh, fo is a word within a fool's belly.

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pleaseth thee, though afterward he do it, he angereth him that nourisheth him.

22 The knowledge of wickedness, is not wifdom, Mm 3 neither

neither at any time the fhew what he is. counfel of finners, prudence.

23 There is a wickedness, and the fame an abomination, and there is a fool wanting in wisdom.

TH

CHAP. XX. HERE is a reproof that is not comely: again, fome man holdeth his tongue, and he is wise,

2 It is much better to reprove, than to be angry se

24 He that hath finall understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and tranfgref-cretly: and he that confeffeth the law of the moft High.

25 There is an exquifite fubtilty, and the fame is unjuft, and there is one that turneth afide to make judgment appear: and there is a wife man that juftifieth in judgment,

26 There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head fadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit,

27 Cafting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be a

ware.

28 And if for want of power he be hindered from finning, yet when he findeth opportunity, he will do evil.

29 A man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him.

30 A man's attire, and exceffive laughter, and gait,

feth his fault, fhall be preferved from hurt.

3 How good is it when thou art reproved, to fhew repentance! for fo fhalt thou efcape wilful fin.

4 As is the luft of an eunuch to deflour a virgin; fo is he that executeth judgment with violence.

5 There is one that keepeth filence, and is found wife; and another by much babbling, becometh hateful.

6 Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not to answer and fome keepeth filence, knowing his time,

7 A wife man will hold his tongue, till he fee opportunity; but a babbler and a fool will regard no time.

8 He that useth many words fhall be abhorred; and he that taketh to himfelf authority therein, shall be hated,

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18 To flip upon a pavement, is better than to flip with the tongue: fo the fall of the wicked fhall come speedily.

19 An unfeasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwife.

20 A wife fentence fhall be rejected, when it cometh

12 There is that buyeth much for a little, and repay-out of a fool's mouth for eth it seven-fold. he will not speak it in due

13 A wife man by his feafon.

words maketh himself be- 21 There is that is hinloved: but the graces of dered from finning through fools fhall be poured out.

14 The gift of a fool fhall do thee no good when thou haft it neither yet of the envious for his neceffity; for he looketh to receive many things for one.

want and when he taketh reft, he fhall not be troubled.

22 There is that destroyeth his own foul through bafhfulness, and by accepting of perfons overthroweth himfelf.

15 He giveth little, and 23 There is that for upbraideth much, he open-bafhfulness promifeth to his eth his mouth like a crier; friend, and maketh him his to-day he lendeth, and to- enemy for nothing. morrow will he ask it again: fuch a one is to be hated of God and man. '

16 The fool faith, I have no friends, I have no thank for all my good deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of me,

17 How oft, and of how many fhall he be laughed to fcorn! for he knoweth not aright what it is to have: and it is all one unto him, as if he had it not.

24 A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is continually in the mouth of the untaught.

25 A thief is better than a man that is accustomed to lie: but they both fhall have destruction to heritage.

26 The difpofition of a liar is dishonourable, and his shame is ever with him.

27 A wife man shall promote himself to honour with his words; and he that hath M m 4 under

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